West Indies lose mis-Max

Christchurch, New Zealand - West Indies lost their tour opener - a two-innings-per-side One-Day match - by eight wickets to the Max Blacks at Jade Stadium yesterday.

It was the Caribbean sides introduction to a new version of the game, called Cricket Max.

Playing under the name Caribbean Calypsos, Brian Laras men made 99 for five in ten overs in the first innings and 92 for five off seven overs in the second.

They were no match for the Kiwis, who have perfected this new form of the game. The home side rattled up 145 for five off ten overs in the first innings and easily reached 47 for two off 5.1 overs in the second.

Man-Of-The-Match Roger Twose was flamboyant in the first innings, blasting 43 not out. Entering at No. 6, the portly left-hander slammed four fours and a six off seven balls.

Boundaries hit straight into the V between long-off and long-on are doubled and Twose got maximum purchase for his shots.

He added 25 in one over with Chris Cairns, who made 44 off 19 balls, as the Kiwis went for broke against the Windies. Left-arm spinner Jimmy Adams had one for 43 runs.

Ricardo Powell again displayed his hitting ability, posting 42, including two fours and three sixes in the first trip to the crease. But he went for a duck when promoted to opener in the second innings.

After crawling to 22 off 19 balls in the first innings, Lara got the hang of it in the second, rattling up 40, including three sixes, off 12 balls.