Huddleston five-for gives NZ the series

Holly Huddleston, playing only her second international match, picked up a five-wicket haul to set up another resounding win for New Zealand Women in the three-match ODI series against West Indies Women in Lincoln. New Zealand lead the series 2-0.

West Indies made a steady start in their chase of 275 and despite the loss of their openers, they were 88 for 2 in the 21st over. Huddleston ran through the middle order, accounting for five of the next six wickets. West Indies' collapse started with the fall of the captain Merissa Aguilleira, who became Huddleston's first international victim when she was trapped in front for 14. The chase stumbled further as Huddleston had Stacy-Ann King caught behind in her next over.

The critical wicket, though, was of Shemaine Campbelle, who fell five short of her half-century in the 33rd over. West Indies' last five wickets lasted until the 49th over but could only manage 49 runs between them, suffering another heavy loss after the nine-wicket mauling in the first ODI.

"She [Huddleston] thought she was picked as an opening bowler for the series, but with the way Sophie bowled the other day, I wanted to give her a crack," Suzie Bates said. "So to come on second [fourth] change when the ball was older and the wicket wasn't giving her much assistance, it was awesome to see her get a five-wicket haul in only her second game, the best figures against West Indies for a New Zealander."

West Indies had won the toss again, but chose to bowl this time. Stafanie Taylor gave them a good start too, picking up the wicket of Bates in the sixth over. However, Sara McGlashan, who scored her second consecutive half-century, and Sam Curtis added 98 for the second wicket to set up the platform for a strong total. Both batsmen were dismissed in quick succession, but Sophie Devine and Katie Perkins added a further 62 in 46 balls to power New Zealand's late charge. Rachel Priest provided the final thrust to the innings, scoring 40 off 19 deliveries, as 78 came off the last eight overs to take New Zealand to 274 for 5.

"We were under pressure with the bat, but Sara McGlashan and Sam Curtis put on a 98-run partnership, I think that really set the game up for us," Bates said. "It just shows with the batting line-up that we have got, what we can do with a good platform.

"We haven't been consistent in one-day cricket and we have talked about [building] partnerships this series. Knowing that we can get to the 35th over with wickets in hand, we can really launch into an attack. We surprised ourselves a bit with the total we got."