Finn Allen compiled a neat 96 before Tim Southee and Trent Boult ran through the West Indies batting line-up in the second match of the series to help New Zealand seal a 50-run win (DLS) on August 19, and level the matters.
Having secured a five-wicket win in the first ODI on Wednesday, the Windies needed to knock off 212 in 41 overs (revised on DLS) to secure a first ODI series win over the Black Caps since 2012. However, they were undone by the collective brilliance of the experienced Southee (4/22) and Boult (3/18) to go down by 50 runs.
Boult accounted for openers Kyle Mayers and Shai Hope, and skipper Nicholas Pooran, while Southee dismissed Shamarh Brooks, Brandon King and Jason Holder – all within the first 10 overs of the chase to reduce the hosts to 27/6.
A long-rain break followed, after which all-rounder Keacy Carty was run-out for 6, while Akeal Hosein fell to Glenn Phillips off-breaks as West Indies stumbled to 72/8 in 23.4 overs, needing further 140 off 104.
Yannic Cariah (52 off 84) and Alzarri Joseph (49 off 31) added 85 off 64 for the ninth wicket to revive hopes, but Southee returned to castle the latter, and Mitchell Santner dismissed Cariah to seal the win.
Earlier, Allen (96 off 117) and Daryl Mitchell (41 off 63), were the lone notable contributors for the visitors, who were put in to bat in regular skipper Kane Williamson’s absence, who was ruled out with a quad muscle strain. They were down at 167/8, but Santner’s valuable 26* ensured that they crossed 200.
Kevin Sinclair (4/41) and Holder (3/24) were the standouts with the ball for the West Indies. The third ODI will be played at the same venue on Sunday, August 21.
Brief scores
New Zealand 212 in 48.2 overs (Allen 96, Mitchell 41; Sinclair 4-41, Holder 3-24) beat West Indies 161 in 35.3 overs (Cariah 52, Joseph 49; Southee 4-22, Boult 3-18) by 50 runs (DLS Method)
