New
Zealand’s master blaster Colin Munro attributed his record-setting
century to sink the West Indies in the third Twenty20 in Mount Maunganui
yesterday to a hit-and-hope philosophy. “I try and go out there and
swing from ball one and see what happens,” he said after blazing 104 off
53 deliveries.
On the back of Munro’s heroics, New Zealand won the
third Twenty20 by 119 runs to complete a sweep of the tour by the West
Indies, having won both Tests, all three one-day internationals and two
T20s. Munro became the first player to score three centuries in
international T20s, going one clear of four other players, including the
West Indies’ Chris Gayle.
“If I’m lucky enough to get a good start, I
try and carry that momentum and if it’s my night, it’s my night and if
not then back to the drawing board,” said the 30-year-old left-hander,
who cracked 10 sixes and three fours.
New Zealand made 243 for five
in their 20 overs and the West Indies’ reply ended at 124 for nine in
16.3 overs, with Shai Hope unable to bat after being injured while
fielding. Munro was named man of the series after scores of 53 and 104
in the two completed Twenty20s and 66 in the washed-out second match.
The West Indies, desperate to get at least one win on the tour, tried every trick in their playbook but Munro was too good.
Munro
and Martin Guptill (63) put on 136 in 11 overs for New Zealand’s first
wicket. That included 16 off the first over by Rayad Emrit, who was
making his T20 debut at the age of 36. But Emrit claimed success in his
second over when he had Guptill caught behind.
Munro continued until
the first ball of the final over when he drove a Brathwaite full toss
straight to Shimron Hetmyer at long on. The West Indies reply began
disastrously with Chadwick Walton and Chris Gayle out without scoring in
Tim Southee’s opening over.
Andre Fletcher did his best to rebuild
the innings and ensured the tourists kept up with New Zealand’s run rate
for the first eight overs. But the introduction of spin saw Ish Sodhi
end Fletcher’s innings for 46 and the momentum fizzled. From 80 for four
after eight overs, the last five West Indies wickets fell for 44 runs
in 51 balls.
New Zealand’s Colin Munro celebrates after scoring a century during the third Twenty20 match against West Indies yesterday. (AFP)