CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — Daryl Mitchell scored 119 from 118 balls to lift a dawdling innings Sunday as New Zealand made 269-7 batting first in the first one-day international against the West Indies.
New Zealand struggled for momentum for most of its innings on a difficult pitch at Hagley Oval and against the tourists’ attack which kept up a painfully slow over rate.
Mitchell put on 67 for the third wicket with Devon Conway and 69 for the fifth wicket with Michael Bracewell (35) in the best of New Zealand’s partnerships. Conway ground out 49 from 58 balls at the top of the order as run-scoring proved difficult against accurate bowling on a pitch that offered slow lateral movement.
The first four New Zealand batters fell to catches behind the stumps by West Indies captain Shai Hope, including Rachin Ravindra (4) and Will Young who were out to consecutive balls from Matt Forde in the seventh over. Young fell for a golden duck in his 50th one-day international.
Mitchell came out to bat at that point, with New Zealand 24 for two. Conway departed at 91-3 and Tom Latham (18) at 123-4, leaving Mitchell as the innings anchor.
He carried his bat until the last over, overcoming a groin injury which required on-field medical treatment when he was 79 in the 41st over. The West Indies lost Romario Shepherd early in the innings with a painful hamstring after he had bowled only four overs.
Mitchell reached his half century from 61 balls and his century from 107 balls with 12 fours and two sixes.
The watchful nature of New Zealand’s innings was reflected in the milestones: it was 39-2 after 10 overs, 94-3 after 20, 133-4 after 30 and 185-4 after 40.
Bracewell took his 35 runs from 52 balls as a foil to Mitchell. He was given out lbw to Shamar Springer when he was 10 but overturned the decision on review. That would have been Springer’s first ODI wicket.
He also survived a stumping chance off Roston Chase when he was 32 and was dropped at cover off Chase one ball before he was dismissed by the same bowler. Chase bowled superbly through the middle overs, taking 1-37 from his 10 overs.
Zak Foulkes played a useful hand at the death, making an unbeaten 22 from 16 balls and putting on 43 for the seventh wicket with Mitchell.
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