Cricket: Black Caps open ODI series with comfortable five wicket win

Todd Astle celebrates his maiden ODI wicket in the Black Caps win over the West Indies at Cobham Oval. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

The Black Caps eased to a five wicket win over the West Indies at Cobham Oval.

George Worker and Colin Munro showed none of the struggles seen in the early part of the West Indies' innings, rotating strike and finding the fence with regularity.

The West Indies attack lacked in the execution department, consistently providing boundary balls for the opening pair.

Worker, despite being the more aggressive Munro's foil, took a fair chunk of the strike during the powerplays and batted beautifully, being particularly prolific through third man as he raced to his half century in 59 deliveries.

Munro was his usual self at the other end, belting the ball around the park until he spooned one to cover one short of his own fifty.

Kesrick Williams picked up the scalp to end the 108-run opening stand.

Captain Kane Williamson came in and found the fence twice in his first five deliveries but Worker fell to the off-spin of Ashley Nurse for 57.

Nurse made run scoring difficult for Williamson and Taylor though both soon settled into their grooves.

Williamson seemed to be cruising along before West Indies captain Jason Holder (2 for 52) removed his opposite for 38.

Tom Latham came and went fairly quickly, trapped in front by Nurse for 17.

Ross Taylor held firm during some middle order wobbles with Latham and Nicholls (17) failing to fire. The experienced head made his way to a fairly sedate 49.

Earlier in the day, the West Indies made 248 for 9 in their 50 overs.

Evin Lewis (76) and Rovman Powell (59) led the way with the bat as they struggled to build significant partnerships.

The returning Doug Bracewell grabbed 4 for 55, while debutant Todd Astle's 3 for 33 also impressed.