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12-Jan-2009 21:15:00 GMT
Westindies in Newzealand, 2008/09

5th ODI, New Zealand v West Indies at Napier, January 13, 2009

Napier: The fate of the rain-disrupted one-day international series between New Zealand and the West Indies rests on the fifth and final match in Napier on Tuesday and neither team is lacking motivation. Two of the first four matches had to be abandoned because of bad weather and the teams are locked at one each going into the decider, with the momentum appearing to favour the home team. 

The Tests and Twenty20s were shared, and now the one-day series is dexterously poised at 1-1. And - just to keep with a familiar pattern over the last six weeks - the weather stands prepared to throw a spanner into the works. Intermittent rain is forecast in Napier for Tuesday's match, increasing the prospect of the five-match series sputtering to a 1-1 scoreline.

The West Indies have not won a one-day series in New Zealand since 1995 and the visitors see Tuesday as a chance to turn their fortunes around. New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has an additional motivation in wanting the team to end the series on a high note before travelling to Australia at the end of the month for a five match one-day series.

Bowler Jerome Taylor remains in doubt for the visitors with a foot injury, with Lionel Baker again likely to step in if needed. New Zealand must choose between seamer Mark Gillespie or offspinner Jeetan Patel, while wayward batsman Jesse Ryder will return after being dropped for the Auckland match. 

Martin Guptill, who carried his bat and wrote himself into the history books with an unbeaten 122 on debut at Eden Park, breaking Stephen Fleming's record (90) for the highest ODI score by a New Zealander in his first match. But Guptill dropped three times.

Weather: As has been the throughout the series, the fifth one-dayer is also likely to be disrupted by spells of rain but the chances of the game being abandoned appear remote.


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