With a convincing five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening game of the series, West Indies ended their nine-match losing streak in one-day internationals.
Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein and pacer Alzarri Joseph each took three wickets to bowl out New Zealand for 190 in 45.2 overs on a ground that helped the bowlers.
For the West Indies, the pursuit was not simple. To ensure that West Indies produced a rare clinical performance in ODI cricket and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, Shamarh Brooks patiently scored 79 off 91 balls.
In eight overs, Martin Guptill and Finn Allen combined for a 41-run opening stand. However, after they both fell in quick succession, New Zealand went from 53-2 to 116-5 as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
The score for New Zealand, who came ten runs shy of the 200-run threshold, would have been significantly worse if not for the efforts of Mitchell Santner (25) and Michael Bracewell (31) later on.
Hosein (3-28) and Joseph (3-36), along with Jason Holder (2-39), Kevin Sinclair (1-37), and Yannick Cariah (1-49), all put in strong bowling performances for the West Indies team.
Shai Hope and Kyle Mayers were defeated by Tim Southee and Trent Boult, respectively, as a result of two powerplay goals from New Zealand. However, Brooks persisted for a while, leading the West Indies chase while skipper Nicholas Pooran scored 28. The bowling from New Zealand, particularly tearaway speedster Lockie, was erratic, which helped the duo.
West Indies were 172-5 when Brooks was out, and with five wickets and 11 overs left, Jason Holder and Jermaine Blackwood, who was playing in his first ODI since 2015, helped the side win.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 190 all out in 45.2 overs (Kane Williamson 34, Michael Bracewell 31; Akeal Hosein 3-28, Alzarri Joseph 3-36) lost to West Indies 193-5 in 39 overs (Shamarh Brooks 79, Nicholas Pooran 28; Tim Southee 2-39, Trent Boult 2-49) by five wickets