HAMILTON, New Zealand — West Indies captain Darren Sammy warned Sunday that players' careers are on the line after his side slumped to a demoralizing 2-0 series defeat at the hands of low-ranked New Zealand. The Caribbean team, which came into the series ranked sixth, two places above the Black Caps, lost the third Test Sunday by eight wickets following a resounding defeat by an innings and 73 runs in the second Test. “We definitely cannot continue like this,” an exasperated Sammy said after the loss in Hamilton — which meant New Zealand won a three-Test series for the first time in nearly eight years. The tourists escaped with a draw in the first Test in Dunedin when rain wiped out the last session of play, with New Zealand poised for victory — the only time the West Indies has avoided defeat in its past five matches following two thumping innings' defeats in India. “A lot of tough decisions have to be made. Probably some careers are on the line. Could be mine as well,” said Sammy. “We've had sessions like this in the past three years. We do well in one session and don't back it up in the other. “It's up to us, each individual as a batsman, to go out and if we have to get ugly runs, get it. Just do whatever is necessary to put the team in a good position, and we've not been able to do that. “Sometimes we're moving forward but we take two steps forward and probably three or four backwards so I guess we're not really moving.” The home side, needing just 122 runs to seal the series 2-0, reached its target for the loss of two wickets after the West Indies collapsed in the face of hostile New Zealand swing bowling. The rapid end to the match surprised New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum after his side trailed by 18 runs on the first innings following a mesmerizing spell of spin bowling by Sunil Narine. “I certainly didn't expect it to end up as quickly as this,” McCullum said, admitting he probably made the wrong decision to bowl first. But once New Zealand seamers Trent Boult and Tim Southee tore through the West Indies' second innings, scuttling the tourists for a paltry 103, it became easy work for New Zealand to bat out the win. Hamish Rutherford, who sealed victory with a boundary to take New Zealand to 124-2, finished on 48 not out, with Ross Taylor on two. Peter Fulton was the first wicket to fall Sunday, caught and bowled by Darren Sammy for 10, and Kane Williamson was dismissed for 56, bowled by Veerasammy Permaul. — Agencies Scoreboard West Indies (1st innings) 367 New Zealand (1st innings) 349 West Indies (2nd innings) 103 New Zealand (2nd innings) Fulton c & b Sammy 10 Rutherford not out 48 Williamson b Permaul 56 Taylor not out 02 Extras: (b7, nb 1) 8 Total: (for 2, 40.4 overs) 124 Falls: 1-33 (Fulton), 2-116 (Williamson). Bowling: Best 7-3-22-0, Narine 16-6-39-0, Sammy 9-3-21-1 (1nb), V. Permaul 7-1-29-1, Deonarine 1.4-0-6-0.
