American Marconi Wireless News - Hope century blasts West Indies to 247-9 against New Zealand

Hope's sizzling 69-ball knock was his 19th ton in the format and breathed life into the tourists' prospects after they made a slow start, having lost the toss in lively seam conditions at Napier's McLean Park.

The match was reduced to 34 overs per side after rain delayed the start by three hours.

Hope arrived with his team limping at 38-2 and batted imperiously, finishing with 13 fours and four sixes.

He became the seventh West Indies player to go past 6,000 ODI runs and the second fastest to do so -- in 147 matches -- behind Viv Richards.

The tourists pummelled 111 off the last nine overs in a brilliant recovery from 130-6, with lower-order batsmen Justin Greaves, Romario Shepherd and Matthew Forde all passing 20 to provide support for Hope.

Nathan Smith bagged late wickets for New Zealand to record career-best figures of 4-42 while fellow seamer Kyle Jamieson took 3-44.

Jamieson stifled the West Indies top order, opening with two maidens and he had figures of 2-12 off five overs before proving expensive late in the innings.

New Zealand lead the series 1-0 after winning the opener in Christchurch on Sunday by seven runs.

A.Mahlangu--AMWN