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Cricket World Cup 2015 Quarterfinal New Zealand v/s West Indies: NZ win by 143 runs; to face SA in semifinal

New Zealand have won the match comfortably by 143 runs. It was really their batting which batted Windies out of the game, and in particular Martin Guptill.

Reported By:Pranav Joshi| Edited By: Pranav Joshi |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Sep 29, 2017, 08:25 PM IST

Cricket World Cup 2015 Quarterfinal New Zealand v/s West Indies: NZ win by 143 runs; to face SA in semifinal

New Zealand have won the match comfortably by 143 runs. It was really their batting which batted Windies out of the game, and in particular Martin Guptill. The bowling was lenient because they had plenty to defend. West Indies went on blazing runs but lost wickets consistently, and were never going to win it. There was some fun from Gayle and the excitement of seeing 250 on the board in 30 overs, but that was it. New Zealand now face South Africa in the semifinals on Tuesday.

Martin Guptill is expectedly the Man of the Match.

Over 31

OUT! Holder gives room, scoops the fullish ball over extra cover, but finds a wide long off with precision! West Indies are bowled out for 250 and New Zealand are in the semifinals!

Over 30

FOUR. Benn goes over mid on, the fielder dives but cant catch it, and it storms into the boundary. 250 up in 30 overs!

Inside edge from Benn, goes for four down the slope. Windies up to 246. 

Oh. Gives room, yorker on middle stump, but Holder manages to dig it out.

FOUR. Slogged over midwicket again, he gave room and the bowler followed him but he managed to middle it.

Over 29

FOUR. Outside off and smashed to the boundary through extra cover. WI 237/9 after 29 overs.

FOUR. Picked up from a good length and swatted over mid on, slowly trickles into the boundary. Vettori can't get there.

FOUR. Short again, smashed for four by Holder to square leg.

Slower short ball outside off stump, swung hard by Benn, but it goes to the off side instead of on and they get one.

Milne spears in a full ball but it is outside leg. Wide.

Over 28

Yorked, Taylor scoops it up to the on side and is caught at short mid wicket. 221/9

More pace and bounce, Taylor tries a cute upper cut but can't connect.

Down the track, Southee follows him, and Taylor misses again.

Slower short ball this time, swing and miss.

Slower ball from Southee. Played carefully by Taylor.

Over 26

Driven to mid wicket off the last ball, WI 217/8 after 26 overs.

SIX. That is a top order batsman's shot by Holder. Short into the hips, pulled for six over square leg.

FOUR. Another yorker, mistimed and still goes for four. 

FOUR. Glorious on drive, Full ball to Taylor, almost a yorker and Taylor drives it down the ground for four.

OUT! Southee comes back, bowls it straight and fast on off, and Andre Russell is cleaned up as he swings across the line.

Over 25

Single off the last ball, WI 201/7 after 25 overs

SIX. Holder comes down the track, Vettori pulls it back but Holder goes through with the shot and hits the sightscreen. Flames blow up with audacity.

Over 24

SIX! Six more, wide outside off and slashed hard, goes into the third man boundary.

SIX! Short, doesn't get up much, and Russell smacks it for six to deep midwicket.

Short ball, Holder goes for the mighty pull and misses.

FOUR. Edged, and four down to fine leg.

Over 23

Run out chance, but there is no direct hit. Windies 174/7 after 23 overs.

Jason Holder is the new batsman

OUT! Brilliant ball, pitches just outside off near fullish length, cuts back and hits the stumps. Carter was on the drive and was bowled easily. WI 173/7

Over 22

Rare misfield from New Zealand at gully, Windies get one. WI 172/6 after 22 overs.

FOUR. Crashed through the on side for four. Russell is not going to hold back tonight.

OUT! Sammy comes down the track, gets a top edge and the ball flies high, then straight into the hands of Luke Ronchi, the keeper. WI 166/6.

Short ball first up, called wide.

Corey Anderson is the new bowler.

Over 20

Short ball, Sammy ducks and falls over, smile on his face. WI 161/5 after 20 overs

SIX. Sammy scoops Boult over mid off for six.

Pulled into the on side, Carter runs two as the fielder puts in a great dive to stop it.

Over 19

FOUR. Driven through covers for four. Windies 151/5 after 19 overs.

SIX. Carter slogs from outside off, for six all the way into the back alleys of Wellington.

FOUR. Sammy smashes the new bowler, Vettori for four over cover.

Over 18

West Indies 134/5 after 18 overs

Yorked, but Sammy manages to play it into the covers for one.

Lame drive outside off, no feet, and Sammy is lucky not to edge it behind.

Trent Boult to bowl his 9th over.

Over 17

Two off the last ball, West Indies 132/5.

Sammy is squared up, ball is edged to third man for one.

FOUR. Driven again, fielder dives hard near the boundary, knocks it back as he goes into the hoardings, but the ball trickles back to touch the triangle.

FOUR. Sammy sends the ball screaming through extra cover for four.

OUT! That is hook, line and sinker. Gayle swings hard at a ball not short enough, and loses his leg stump after an inside edge. He was also late on the shot. Windies 120/5 and the fight is over. 61 off 33

Over 15

Great ball to end the over, fraction outside off and shaping away, WI 115/4 after 15 overs.

Carter is very quiet at the other end, 9 off 16. Are Windies trying out some strategy here?

SIX! Short again, sits up and Gayle goes over the on side again, between deep midwicket and deep square leg.

Over 14

Perfect yorker, right on middle stump and great length, Carter manages to keep it out. WI 108/4 after 14 overs, that was a maiden.

Full toss on middle stump, Carter fails to get it away.

Straight ball, Carter plays it down to mid off, no run.

Over 13

Immediately Milne beats Gayle outside off stump. WI 108/4 after 13 overs

FOUR. On the hips, and Gayle gets a tickle on it and it goes for four to fine leg. 53 off 26 balls, but the celebrations are very muted.

Gayle moves to 49 with a single. Adam Milne is the new bowler.

Over 11

Slower ball, low full toss, Gayle gets it to short mid on and some people in the crowd think it's a catch. WI 92/4 after 11 overs.

SIX! Swung down the ground, this was as tall as it was long, into the stands behind long on.

SIX! Short ball from Southee, bad short ball. waist high for Gayle who swings for six.

Over 10

OUT! Plumb out is that? Fast, swinging in, hit flush on middle stump, and he is gone, LBW. Windies 80/4 after 10 overs.

Denesh Ramdin is the new batsman.

OUT! WHAT A CATCH! Samuels slammed a short ball towards third man, Vettori was on the fence, ball had almost gone over him, and he jumped and caught it in the fingers, one handed! Brilliant take, great judgment. Windies 80/3.

Over 9

Single off the last ball, on a yorker. WI 80/2 off 9 overs.

FOUR. Short, Samuels pulls hard and gets a top edge, ball flies down the ground for four.

SIX! Lofted over extra cover for six! Are Windies going to make a match out of this?

FOUR. Yorker, Samuels digs it out and it goes for four through wide mid on.

FOUR. Wide outside off from Southee, and Samuels bashes it to the boundary.

Over 7

SIX! Three in a row, similar shot, except that the ball was outside leg. WI 51/2 after 7 overs.

SIX! Swung again, this time more of a slog-sweep, another six. These boundaries are ridiculously short.

SIX! Powered into the stands behind deep midwicket for six.

Outside leg stump, Gayle swings hard, and Milne misfields miserably at square leg to allow 2 runs.

Samuels drives down the ground for one, Gayle on strike to a spinner.

Daniel Vettori has been introduced into the attack. 

Over 6

Windies 30/2 after  6 overs

Samuels is the new man, and he gets an edge outside off stump as he hangs out his bat, ball flies over the slips for two.

OUT! Boult bowls across the batsman, and Simmons plays with no feet, out at second slip. WI 27/2.

SIX! Simmons comes down the track and smashes Boult over deep cover for six.

Over 5

FOUR. Slower ball outside off and Gayle smashes it down the ground for four. WI 21/1 after 5 overs.

SIX! Short ball, sits up on Gayle who smashes it to the midwicket boundary. Flat six.

FOUR. Good length outside off and biffed down the ground, mid off is wide.

Nice line on off by Southee, defended by Samuels

Over 3

Gayle half-drives and then withdraws, taken by McCullum, and NZ appeal. Didn't look out, but we will have a review. Wasted review, no edge. WI 5/1 after 3 overs.

Wide ball as Gayle looks to charge down the track.

On middle stump, inside edge and no run.

Ripper. Ball rises as it nears Gayle, he has to sway away just as he was thinking of playing it. Throat high.

Gayle edges behind this time, but once bounce to second slip Corey Anderson.

Yorker length outside off, Gayle leaves but the ball sprints upwards. McCullum has to jump high to take it.

Straight from Southee and Gayle defends.

Over 2

Wicket maiden, WI 4/1 after 2 overs.

Samuels swings at a short ball outside off stump and misses.

OUT! Bowled, Charles is gone. Fast, straight ball on off stump, and Charles tries to swing as he gives room. Stump rockets off, WI 4/1.

Over 1

West Indies 4/0 after 1 over.

Pulled off the chest to long leg, WI get another two.

Charles swings across the line and a fielder stops it on the square leg boundary. 2 runs.

Chris Gayle biffs Southee to mid off to get the first runs for Windies.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

What an innings from Martin Guptill. Samuels will be gutted to have dropped him in the first over. He was cautious for a long time as Windies stayed in the game with a few wickets. Once the batting powerplay arrived, he let loose and never stopped. New Zealand scored 153 runs off the last 10 overs. The Windies have been thrashed, beaten, destroyed, decimated. Surely they cannot come back and win.

Over 50

Yorker last ball, Guptill hits it towards midwicket, NZ run two! They finish on 393/6, and Guptill on 237 off just 163 balls. His last 137 came in 52 balls I think.

FOUR. Over cover point this time, yorker length outside off, into the boundary.

SIX! On the off side, over long off, just goes for six.

Two runs. Smashed down the ground, they run very, very hard. Vettori was running to the danger end but he did really well.

Slower short ball, Guptill pulls and misses.

SIX! ON THE ROOF! ON THE FREAKING ROOF! Full toss, on middle, Guptill hits it into next week.

Over 49

FOUR. Walks outside off, Taylor follows him, and Vettori still pulls out a flick, the ball goes between him and the stumps for four to fine leg. Taylor is bemused. NZ 373/6 after 49.

FOUR, slogs hard, and finds the gap at deep midwicket. 

Daniel Vettori is the new man in.

OUT! Ronchi is caught. Yorker length on middle stump and Rinchi clears his leg to flick it into the on side. Hits it straight to square leg.

FOUR. Similar balls and similar shots. Full on off and slogged away over the on side.

Over 48

Slower ball, good length outside off, he misses. New Zealand 357/5 after 48 overs.

FOUR. Wide outside off again but this time Guptill didn't move. Four over extra cover.

Fast ball, Guptill gives a lot of room and Russell puts it further outside off, Guptill misses.

FOUR. Low full toss, outside off, and this is just a party now. 350 up for NZ. 

SIX! Brutal hit, whipped from outside off stump into the stands behind midwicket.

FOUR. Smashed down the ground for four, and GUPTILL HAS MADE A DOUBLE CENTURY. First ever double centurion for New Zealand, and what a time to make it. West Indies are dead and buried.

Andre Russell is the assigned victim.

Over 47

Pulled towards deep midwicket and Guptill gets one. He will be on strike next over. NZ 339/5.

FOUR. Guptill goes straight down the ground again, and the ball just bounces inside the boundary. 198.

Luke Ronchi is the new batsman, hits a full toss down the ground for one.

OUT! Elliott goes down on one knee and tries to slog, misses and is given out LBW. NZ decide to review. Out plumb. Crashing into middle stump. Brilliant cameo. 27 off 11.

FOUR. Elliott picks the ball up from off stump and hammers it through cover for four.

Slogged to the on side and Guptill gets one.

Jerome Taylor is back.

Over 46

NZ 328/4 after 46 overs, 370 + is on the cards.

SIX! Short ball this time, to no difference! Helicopter shot over long on from Elliott. six more. 

SIX! This time it's Elliot. Similar ball again. Full on middle and whomped into the crowd for six over midwicket.

Hooks, out to long leg, gets a single. 193.

FOUR. Martin Guptill has made the highest score ever for NZ. Races to 192 with a flick off the hips, four to deep square leg.

Over 45

SIX! Wide ball next ball and then the last ball is full outside off, smashed into the stands for six, this time over the off side. 27 runs off the over, NZ 309/4.

SIX. Pitch it up, Mr Holder, and get deposited into the stands! Again, and again and again. Guptill on 182 now.

Wild pull from Elliott, big top edge, but falls behind the keeper and they get three.

FOUR. Oh dear. Ball biffed towards deep midwicket, three bounces, was going straight to the fielder. But he slips! The ball turned or something and then went for four. Poor fielding.

Over extra cover this time, gets a single to wide long off.

SIX! Guptill slams Holder over wide mid on, almost caught on the boundary but just goes over!

Holder to bowl, 4th over on the trot.

Over 44

NZ 282/4 after 44 overs.

Yorker length, dug out towards deep square leg for one.

Grant Elliott comes out to the middle. Immediately gets a single behind the wicket.

OUT! Second catch for Chris Gayle and Anderson is gone. Slower ball and holes out to midwicket. 15 off 16. NZ 278/4.

Over 43

SIX! Horrible last ball, nice juicy full toss, and Guptill swings it over deep midwicket for six.

Yorker length, but NZ still manage to get two runs.

SIX! Full and wide outside off, and Guptill goes into the crowd again. Six over extra cover.

Anderson slams a full toss to long off for one.

Almost yorker length on off, mowed down the ground for one by Guptill.

Jason Holder comes back.

Over 41

Seven off the over, NZ 247/4 after 41 overs.

Cut hard, finds the point fielder but gets the single to take him to 150. 150 off 134 balls.

FOUR. Wrong length from Benn again and swept for four by Guptill. Moves to 149.

Over 40

After three dot balls Anderson biffs a good length ball outside off through covers, fielded on the fence and NZ get two. 240/3 after 40 overs, 53 off the powerplay.

FOUR. Short and wide at Guptill, who just slams it over the off side for four.

Jason Holder comes back.

Over 39

Two dot balls to end the over, NZ 233/3 after 39.

Corey Anderson comes to the crease, promoted ahead of Grant Elliott.

OUT! Ross Taylor is gone, Guptill missed the sweep shot and refused to go for the single, Ross Taylor was halfway down the pitch and failed to make it back at all. NZ 232/3.

SIX! Single from Ross Taylor and then Guptill just tonks Suliemann over long off, short boundary. Six into the middle of the crowd.

Over 38

FOUR. Straight down the ground, one bounce into the fence. NZ 225/2 after 38 overs.

SIX! Full outside off again, another slower one. Guptill picks it again and now it goes over square leg for six!

Great running, Taylor comes back aggressively to the non-striker's end, dives hard and he is in. The ball only made it to mid on!

FOUR. Full outside off, slower one, Guptill picks it and deposits the ball between long on and deep midwicket for four.

Driven straight to point, no run.

Jerome Taylor comes back. He might bowl 6 overs on a trot here?

Over 37

9 off the over, NZ 209/2 after 37.

FOUR. Just outside off, cut away, past short third man for four.

FOUR. Benn strays on leg stump and Guptill slog sweeps him for four to long leg.

13 runs off the first over of the batting powerplay.

Over 35

FOUR. Paddle sweep, beats fine leg and Taylor gets his first boundary. NZ 187/2 after 35 overs.

CENTURY FOR MARTIN GUPTILL as he drives a ball down to long on. 

Late cut for two runs, for a while it looked like going for four. Guptill moves to 99.

Over 34

Four singles from the over, NZ 179/2.

Just two runs off 4 balls so far.

MIX UP, Guptill dabs the ball to the off side. Stop, run, stop. Taylor is already halfway down the pitch and then begins to run back. Guptill is running towards the non-striker so they are both running in the same direction! Guptill gets back in time though.

Over 33

Very good two to end the over, NZ 175/2 after 33 overs.

Now a single to the on side and he moves to 94.

FOUR. Down the track goes Guptill, and slams it straight down the ground for four. 

Over 32

Three off the over, NZ 166/2.

Taylor finally gets a single off the fourth ball.

Two dot balls and now pressure on Taylor. Make that three dot balls. Taylor 25 off 47.

Over 30

FOUR. Great shot of a batsman in form. Just one off the over before that and Guptill leans into a ball on off stump to play it through wide mid on for four. NZ 160/2 after 30 overs.

Jason Holder is bowling a really good spell. 14 runs conceded off 29 balls.

Ross Taylor is yet to hit a boundary. 24 off 43. Leg bye on the on side.

Over 29

6 off the over, NZ 155/2.

An interesting game on. West Indies are not trying to take wickets and NZ are content to knock the ball around instead of attacking.

Another single to long on.

Guptill plays it fine on the off side by opening the face of the bat, and gets three.

Over 28

Just three off the over, New Zealand 149/2.

Taylor has a shimmy down the track and then plays it to mid off for one.

Martin Guptill gets a single off the third ball from Darren Sammy.

Over 27

Six singles from the over, New Zealand 146/2 after 27 overs.

Ross Taylor picks another quick single to the on side.

Over 26

Single off the last ball, Taylor 17 off 31. NZ 140/2 after 26 overs.

Ross Taylor plays out a couple of dot balls.

Guptill edges to third man for a single.

Over 25

Paddle sweep by Taylor for two runs to fine leg. NZ 138/2 after 25 overs.

Single to long on off the third ball.

Guptill waits, cuts outside off but straight to point.

Over 23

One off the last ball, NZ 130/2 after 23 overs.

FOUR. Crashed through the off side for four. Beats point.

He drives down to long on for one with ease.

Single off the third ball and now Ross Taylor is on strike.

Leg stump first ball, and flicked into the deep on the on side for two.

Marlon Samuels is the new bowler.

Over 22

Sccoped, edge to long off from Guptill, NZ 121/2 after 22 overs.

Single by Taylor to third man, he moves to 11 off 19. He's still struggling but is playing slightly better today.

Over 21

FOUR. Short, wide, smashed for four through cover point. Kiwis are 117/2 after 21 overs.

Leg stump line from Benn, Guptill flicks it, fine leg dives but fails to stop it fully, NZ gets two.

FOUR. Swept for four. Beats short fine leg.

Suliemann Benn in his 7th straight over.

Over 20

Fifty for Martin Guptill as he eases Russell through point for one.

Four dot balls as Ross Taylor tries to find the pace and bounce of the ball, well defended though.

Russell continues as Taylor looks to find form.

Over 18

Oh. Guptill almost plays on and then stops the ball from going on to hit the stumps, with his bat. Windies throw needlessly, there are overthrows and Guptill gets a single. NZ 95/2 after 18 overs.

Two more singles makes the score 94/2

Short ball, Guptill hooks while taking his eyes off the ball and misses.

Andre Russell continues, and Taylor gets a single to the off side.

Over 17

Very tight over by Sulieman Benn, just two off it. 91/2.

Single down to deep mid on.

Ross Taylor is the new man at the crease, and he's very out of form.

Over 16

OUT! Slower ball, and Kane Williamson hits it straight to Chris Gayle at short cover! Williamson did not judge the slower ball correctly, though it was short outside off. NZ 89/2 after 16.

FREE HIT. Full ball, Williamson moves towards off but misses. The ball hits Williamson's pads and goes to the keeper.

No ball, free hit coming up.

NZ have slowed down after the initial burst as they look to milk the singles and twos. Two off this over so far from 4 balls.

Over 15

Single off the last ball, New Zealand 86/1 after 15 overs.

Oh man. Pitches in line, impact in line, but the seam of the ball is more outside leg stump than inside when it hits leg stump, so it's the UMPIRE'S CALL. Not out.

Another big shout, and this time it's Williamson. West Indies decide to review.

Huge appeal from Suliemann Benn as Guptill is hit on the pads, but the umpire is disinterested. Hawkeye shows the ball was going down leg.

Over 13

Maiden over! NZ 78/1 after 13 overs.

Benn bowls a much better line to begin the 13th over. 5 straight dot balls, 3 last over and 2 this over.

Over 12

FOUR. Short, but not short enough, and pulled viciously for four.

Short ball, one of the few ones so far, and Williamson ducks.

Edged, goes fine to third man for two. The fielder fumbles on the fence.

Two dot balls to begin with. Andre Russell is the new bowler.

Over 11

NZ 71/1 after 11 overs.

Wide, and NZ get a single to short fine leg.

FOUR. Low full toss outside off from Benn and driven through covers by Guptill. He beat the man running in from deep point, good timing.

Two singles off the first two balls.

Over 10

Quick single to mid on, last ball coming up. Last ball is a slower ball which is defended by Guptill. 63/1.

Good stop, another widish ball but Williamson can't find the gap.

FOUR. Williamson's backfoot square drive finds the deep point fence. Rode the bounce well.

Holder continues.

Over 9

Eight off the over, NZ 57/1 after 9 overs.

Williamson for his part gets another single in the deep. 

Flicked on the backfoot towards square leg for one.

FOUR. Too short, too wide and slammed for four past covers.

Suliemann Benn comes into the attack.

Over 8

No runs off the last ball, NZ 49/1 after 8 overs.

Three, Guptill's drive this time beats short mid off and is only pulled in near the fence.

Guptill smashes a good length ball outside off, doesn't time it and out to short mid off on the first bounce.

Over 6

NZ 34/1 after 6 overs following a single off the last ball.

Misfield at square leg allows a single for NZ.

Single to deep third man.

Very bad throw, Williamson dabbed it behind square and went for the single, halted and was slow to turn. Simmons' throw was way wide of the stumps.

Over 5

Drives again, doesn't time it. NZ 31/1 after 5 overs.

Pokes his bat out at a ball outside off and misses.

FOUR. Guptill drives through cover point for four.

Kane Williamson comes out to the middle.

OUT! Brendon McCullum has fallen, tries to go over mid off, mistimes it. Holder runs backwards, holds on to a good catch. Big wicket. NZ 27/1.

McCullum drives, but the ball falls short of mid off. Not timed well.

Over 4

NZ 27/0 after 4 overs.

Single down to mid wicket. The spectator in the crowd who caught the ball off the six gets richer.

SIX! Short, and McCullum pulls hard for six. That went over the fence before we could blink.

FOUR. On middle and leg, and McCullum flicks it over backward short leg for four.

Down the track goes McCullum, and slapped straight to mid on. No timing.

Jason Holder bowls a good off stump line to McCullum, who defends.

Over 3

Guptill lets the last ball go, and NZ are 16/0 after 3 overs.

Better length, slightly shorter, and Guptill edges the drive to cover point.

FOUR. Four more for Guptill, 2nd straight drive off the over, too full again.

FOUR. Another straight drive. Taylor failing to get his length right.

Over 1

On the pads again, and umpire signals a leg bye as the ball goes out to fine leg for one. NZ 5/0 after 1 over.

DROPPED. Bad ball, on the legs, Guptill flicks hard, and Samuels at square leg drops it. It was a hard chance though.

Nice shape on the second ball, Guptill leaves it outside off.

FOUR. Taylor runs in, and Guptill drives him straight down the ground for four. The ball slows down near the boundary but just makes it. 

We are ready to go!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6:10 IST Saturday, 21 March 2015

The pitch report is that it is flat and great for batting. It will remain so in the second innings. Only the dew factor might help New Zealand, hence McCullum's decision.


6:04 IST Saturday, 21 March 2015

Jason Holder says Chris Gayle is playing. He is not too disappointed with losing the toss, thinks the bowlers will get some assistance.

It's time for the toss. New Zealand win it and McCullum says they will bat first.


5:30 IST Saturday, 21 March 2015

Welcome to the LIVE coverage of the ICC World Cup 2015 Quarterfinal 4 between New Zealand and the West Indies. This is the last of the quarterfinals and will take place at Wellington. The game will begin at 6:30 am IST.

New Zealand, on a rampage at this World Cup so far, are favourites to win this match and reach the semifinals. They have an irrepressible pace attack led by Trent Boult and Tim Southee, back-on-top spinner Daniel Vettori and some in-form batsmen like captain Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson.

West Indies on the other hand have had two moderately performing bowlers - captain Jason Holder and Jerome Taylor - and not much else to speak about. They have barely managed to make the quarterfinals and it remains to be seen whether they can dramatically lift their game today to beat New Zealand. If they do so, it will be their first World Cup semifinal since 1996. Here's the match preview.

Captain Holder may not be the greatest player in the world. But he is a man of guts, gumption and honesty. He admitted that a win over New Zealand today would be huge for West Indies.

The big worry for West Indies though is the fitness of Chris Gayle. The aggressive opener is the biggest and most vital cog in the West Indies team if they are to beat the Kiwis. Fortunately, Gayle was seen training in the nets on Friday. But West Indies will wait until Saturday morning to assess his match fitness.

New Zealand are less worried about the quarterfinal. Brendon McCullum has in fact defended their aggressive batting approach. 

In fact, at dna we believe New Zealand are favourites not just to make the semifinals but also the finals. Read this piece.

West Indies batting legend and all-time great Brian Lara has words of encouragement for his struggling team. It is to be remembered that Lara's 111 in the 1996 World Cup quarterfinal against South Africa led to the Proteas' exit from the World Cup after a string of 10 straight ODI wins including 6 at the World Cup. So will the Lara in the present Windies team please stand up?

Here are some interesting facts for New Zealand and West Indies, at this World Cup and against each other down the years. You'll be surprised.

Meanwhile, both captains spoke to the press on Friday ahead of this quarterfinal. Here's the podcast.

To follow all the action from the 2015 World Cup, you can visit dna's special page.

LIVE COVERAGE

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