New Zealand crush West Indies to clinch series

WELLINGTON, Mar 20 (Reuters) New Zealand crushed West Indies by 10 wickets in the second test today to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in their three-match series.

Set just 36 to win, New Zealand cruised to their victory target in less than nine overs with Hamish Marshall making an unbeaten 23 and Jamie How nine.

It was a record fifth successive test victory for New Zealand and an eighth defeat in a row for West Indies.

The touring side had started the day on 118 for four in their second innings, needing another 62 just to make New Zealand bat again.

They managed to avoid an innings defeat but added just 97 runs for the loss of their last six wickets to leave the Kiwis chasing a small total on the fourth day at the Basin Reserve.

''We've been working hard on our test cricket and the transition between the one-day stuff and the longer form,'' New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming told New Zealand Press Association.

''We've usually found ourselves playing one form pretty well but the other form drops off, so what we've tried to do is increase our winning ability in the one-day game but not to the detriment of test cricket, and so far it's going okay.'' West Indies coach Bennett King was unable to explain the inexplicable loss of form suffered by his world record-breaking batsman Brian Lara, who has scored just seven runs in four innings in the series.

''He's not out there long enough to know if he's struggling,'' King said. ''In the four innings he's played, he's got out four different ways, so in terms of him having a weakness anywhere, I'm not sure.

''But New Zealand know where they are going to get him out at the moment.'' REUTERS PM KN1410