By Ross Karl
BlackCaps captain Ross Taylor admits his team blew another chance at victory in Saint Kitts, losing the fifth one-dayer by 20 runs and the series 4-1.
The BlackCaps' shortcomings have been easily grasped by the West Indies, who have forced the tourists into the same mistakes.
“We got off to a good start with the ball, and our last 15 overs with both bat and ball in our last two games is where we've lost the match,” says Ross Taylor.
Having already lost the series, New Zealand started game five positively, removing Chris Gayle.
The Windies were 37 for three until Dwayne Bravo anchored their innings with 53 and Andre Russell smashed 59 off 40 balls.
Chasing 242, Rob Nicol was dismissed second ball while Taylor, Guptill, and McCullum all disappeared after making starts.
Kane Williamson’s 69 took the upperhand. But needing 36 off the last five overs, he became Sunil Narine's fifth victim and New Zealand collapsed to 221 all out.
Yet Narine's 20 wickets in the limited overs series don't worry Taylor before the tests.
“Test match cricket is going to be totally different,” he says. “I'm sure you can crowd the bat but you don't have to go after Narine. When Narine is at his best is when batsmen have to attack him.”
Taylor has until next Thursday's first Test in Antigua to learn how to end the Windies' domination.
3 News