Black Caps v West Indies result: New Zealand spinners humiliate hosts to level ODI series

In reply, the Black Caps’ chase was far from straightforward on the tricky surface. Fresh from captaining New Zealand to a 2-1 test series win over England, Tom Latham played the winning hand with the bat, scoring 37 not out off 61 balls to stop the West Indies’ spinners inflicting the same damage as their Kiwi counterparts.

And having done a job with the ball, Bracewell capped a fine allround performance with 24 not out of his own, as he and Latham put on an unbeaten 45 runs that ended any local hopes of a fightback victory.

While the West Indies’ openers batted with intent and aggression to add 63 in 64 balls together, Bracewell breaking the stand by having Ackeem Auguste (18) caught at cover saw the hosts’ innings fall apart like a house of cards.

John Campbell’s 43 off 41 was the best for the West Indies, but when he was bowled by Santner to see his off-stump out of the ground, the Black Caps never relented their hold on the innings.

Lennox’s introduction saw the pair of captain Shai Hope (7) and Sherfane Rutherford (8) bowled, and when Santner snuck one through the defence of Keacy Carty (18), the West Indies had lost half their side in just the 22nd over.

The worst was still to come. Gudakesh Motie ate up 16 deliveries to score his one run, but became Lennox’s third when he was bowled, before Matthew Forde’s stumps were rearranged when he missed an ugly swipe across the line.

As the last specialist batter, the West Indies’ hope of any competitive total rested on Amir Jangoo. But when he was trapped lbw by Bracewell for 24, the hosts were under serious threat of being bowled out for less than 150.

At 133-8, the only thing missing from the West Indian collapse was a run-out, a feat Alzarri Joseph (1) corrected when he took on Mark Chapman’s arm at cover to leave the hosts nine down, with more than 15 overs remaining.

Hunting a maiden five-for, Lennox couldn’t have asked for a better match-up than 19-year-old Vitel Lawes – batting for the first time in professional cricket – and was rewarded with the last wicket, trapping the teenager lbw, to complete the rout in the 36th over.

With 300 balls to reach their target, the Black Caps’ batters also struggled against spin on the sluggish wicket. Will Young (28) and Henry Nicholls (17) added 35 together for the first wicket, but New Zealand slumped to 96-5 as the West Indies’ slow bowlers made the Black Caps work for their runs.

Daryl Mitchell was given out for one, but was saved by a review, but was eventually out stumped for 28 after adding 42 with Latham.

Needing 45 from the final 29 overs, Latham absorbed the pressure of the West Indies’ spinners with exception, including a 55-ball stretch without finding the boundary.

But once he and Bracewell got to work, the West Indies’ target was never going to be enough, as victory was sealed in the 33rd over, as an outside edge to the third man boundary ticked off the final runs needed.

New Zealand can take a series lead on Friday, with game three to be played at the same venue, before shifting to Barbados for the final two matches.

West Indies 139 all out (Campbell 43; Lennox 5-19)

New Zealand 141-5 (Latham 37 not out; Pierre 2-33)

New Zealand win by five wickets

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