Rance's debut strikes sink Windies

Debutant Seth Rance sparked a West Indies batting meltdown as New Zealand cruised to a 47-run victory in the opening Twenty20 match at Saxton Oval in Nelson on Friday.

Rance took two wickets in successive balls in his second over, including the prized scalp of Chris Gayle, to set the tourists on a downward spiral that ended in the 19th over.

New Zealand, sent in to bat first, posted 187 for seven with their total bolstered by 25 off the final over by Mitchell Santner and Tim Southee.

But the West Indies, the reigning world Twenty20 champions, never looked like reaching their 188-run target after star batsman Gayle fell cheaply for 12.

Because the batsmen crossed when Gayle skied the ball to Glenn Phillips, Chadwick Walton on seven faced he next Rance delivery and he smacked it straight to Anaru Kitchen at cover-point.

It left the West Indies at two for 19 and they never recovered from the initial setback.

Rance came back for his final over to end the West Indies innings with six balls to spare.

Rance returned the impressive figures of three for 30, while Tim Southee took three for 36.

SCORES IN BRIEF

NEW ZEALAND: 187 for 7 (Phillips 55, Munro 53, Santner 23, Taylor 20; Brathwaite 2-38, Taylor 2-41)

WEST INDIES: 140 all out in 19 overs (Fletcher 27, Brathwaite 21, Nurse 20 not out; Rance 3-30, Southee 3-36, Bracewell 2-10)

Result: New Zealand won by 47 runs