Windies target whitewash - Russell

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC):

All-rounder Andre Russell said West Indies were eyeing a whitewash after brushing aside New Zealand by nine wickets in the opening one-day international of the five-match series at Sabina Park on Thursday.

Set a revised target of 136 off 33 overs after a two-hour rain break during their innings, West Indies cruised to victory off 24.2 overs, to take a 1-0 lead in the series which continues today with the second game at the same venue.

Russell said starting the series on a winning note could now set the tone for a total domination of the remaining four matches.

"I think it's very good for West Indies cricket now because it's a while we haven't won a series and we came very close to winning a series against Australia where they were the top team," said Russell.

"This is the time now when we can make use of the resource we have. We have a very good team, we're playing at home and we have all the home advantage. I'm looking at a whitewash at the moment."

He continued: "If we had lost this game we couldn't be thinking about a whitewash so we just have to take it game by game and step by step.

"We're not going to get complacent and say it's a weak team because they have guys in the team who can get the job done and they have a good team so we're not going to take any game lightly."

incisive bowling

While the crowd turned out to witness something special from hometown boy Chris Gayle, Russell stole a share of the spotlight with an incisive bowling performance.

The 24-year-old Jamaican earned the Man-of-the-Match award by snatching four for 45 with his medium pace to restrict New Zealand to 190 for nine off their 50 overs.

After missing the Twenty20s last weekend in Florida, Russell said it was important he made an immediate impact on his return to the team.

"I'm happy with the way I bowled. It was good to come back into the team after I missed the T20 series in Florida and make an impression right away," Russell said.

He added: "I got the opportunity to bowl the new ball and I knew I could make good use of it. I decided to run in with purpose, hit the deck hard and look for wickets.

"Before the match we said wickets with the new ball would be vital and my focus was on getting it right from the very start."