A rusty-looking New Zealand were thumped by 56 runs by the battle-hardened West Indians in an exhibition Twenty20 cricket match at Lauderhill in Florida on Sunday (NZT).
Sent into bat, the West Indies had little trouble in racking up an intimidating 209 for two, while the Black Caps managed just 153 for eight off 18.3 overs.
The game wasn't without its cost for New Zealand. Captain Ross Taylor injured his left shoulder fielding, and retired hurt on 11 after coming in at first drop and batting two overs.
Allrounder Jacob Oram damaged his knee fielding on the boundary, and leftarm spinner Ronnie Hira couldn't bat after dislocating a finger trying to stop a ferocious Chris Gayle drive.
The West Indies hammered a Black Caps bowling line-up which struggled for line and length, scoring at 10.45 runs an over as opener Gayle and Kieron Pollard put on an unbeaten 108-run partnership off 41 balls.
The all-rounder was in no mood muck around, treating the often wayward New Zealand bowling attack with disdain in racking up 63 off 29 balls at a strike rate of 214.
Gayle responded in kind, upping the tempo in striking 85 from 52 balls, including seven fours and five sixes in seeing out the full 20 overs.
The Black Caps lost their first wicket in the fourth over, looking out of touch as they battled to build partnerships of any substance.
The second exhibition match is scheduled for early Monday morning (NZT) before the two teams travel to Jamaica for the first of five one-day internationals in Kingston.
NZN