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Ryder and McCullum inspire Kiwis victory

  • Story Highlights
  • New Zealand beat West Indies by 36 runs in Twenty20 international in Hamilton
  • Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum put on 130 in a blistering opening stand
  • Sri Lanka in total command in opening Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur
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(CNN) -- Big-hitters Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum inspired New Zealand to a 36-run win over West Indies in their Twenty20 international in Hamilton on Sunday.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene celebrates his century in the opening Test against Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene celebrates his century in the opening Test against Bangladesh.

The pair put on 130 runs for the first wicket with Ryder leading the way with a 41-ball 62 and wicketkeeper McCullum making 59 off 34 balls, including four sixes.

It enabled the Kiwis to total 191 for nine wickets, with the visitors, who won the previous Twenty20 clash in Auckland after an eliminator over, making 155 for seven.

The West Indies were never on the pace once opener Chris Gayle was dismissed by debutant Ewen Thompson for one in the second over.

The opening stand between Ryder and McCullum was a New Zealand record for any wicket in a Twenty20 match.

Ryder was dropped on 16 and 49, but peppered the boundary until both he and McCullum went in quick succession.

Their departures saw wickets fall regularly and end hopes of going past 200, but it still proved too much for the West Indies despite a fine half century by Ramnaresh Sarwan, who hit three fours and three sixes.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori was again the star turn with the ball taking two for 19 off his four overs.

The teams now head to Queenstown for the opening one-day international on New Year's Eve having drawn both matches of the two-Test series.

In other cricket action on Sunday, Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene scored his 24th Test century as his team took a stranglehold on the opening Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur.

Sri Lanka were 291-4 in their second innings at stumps on the third day, an overall lead of 406 runs.

Jayawardene reached his ton off 177 balls with 11 boundaries and one six, sharing a fourth wicket stand of 138 with Thilan Samaraweera.

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