New Zealand cruise to series win over Windies

New Zealand cruised to an eight-wicket win over the West Indies on Sunday to claim their first victory in a three-Test series in nearly eight years. The home side, needing just 122 runs to seal the series 2-0, reached their target for the loss of just two wickets after the West Indies collapsed in the face of a hostile spell of New Zealand swing bowling. Hamish Rutherford, who sealed the victory with a boundary to take New Zealand to 124-2, finished on 48 not out, with Ross Taylor on two. Peter Fulton was the first wicket to fall, caught and bowled by Darren Sammy for 10, and Kane Williamson fell for 56, bowled by Veerasammy Permaul. New Zealand take the series 2-0 after the first Test in Dunedin was drawn and they won the second by an innings and 73 runs in Wellington. It was the first time New Zealand have achieved back-to-back Test victories against a top-eight side since March 2006 -- also against the West Indies. New Zealand resumed the fourth morning at 6-0 and although Sunil Narine bowled unchanged through the first session he went without reward. Rutherford, who was stuck at the spinner's end for nine consecutive overs at one stage, offered a chance on 20 but Permaul did not see the ball early enough and it landed short of his grasp. When on 24 he was given out caught behind, but the decision was overturned on appeal with the video replay showing the sound was the bat hitting the ground. It was a remarkable turnaround for the home side after the West Indies felt they were in command the previous day, with an 18-run first innings lead and New Zealand struggling to handle Narine on a turning wicket. But the West Indies suffered from questionable shot selections against the swing bowling of Trent Boult and Tim Southee. Boult and Southee, along with the batting of Ross Taylor, laid the foundations of New Zealand's success. Taylor, with 131 in the first innings, scored 495 in five innings in the series and he was only dismissed twice. Boult (four for 23) and Southee (3-12) destroyed the West Indies' second innings. Over the three Tests, Boult took 20 wickets at 15.40 and Southee claimed 18 scalps at 18.11. New Zealand and the West Indies will now play five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 fixtures before India arrive in New Zealand next month for a two-Test series. Source: AFP