By Sean Devers
LED by a 5-for from left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox, New Zealand beat the West by five wickets last night at Providence to level the five-match ODI series 1-1 in a low-scoring game which was dominated by the spinners as no batter registered a half-century.
New Zealand invited the West Indies to bat on a spin-friendly track and dismissed the hosts for a paltry 138 in 36 overs from a position of 66-0, their decision was justified.
Apart from John Campbell, whose 45 lasted 41 balls and included four fours and one six, only Amir Jangoo (24) reached 20.
Lennox had 5-19 while off-spinner Michael Bracewell (2-51) and Skipper Mitchell Santner (2-21) supported Lennox.
New Zealand reached 141-5 in 32.3 overs as Tom Latham top scored with 37 from 61 balls and two fours. Pierre had 2-33 in a losing cause for the West Indies
West Indies started positively as Campbell square drove Jacob Duffy for a glorious boundary, off the third ball of the match, before Ackeem Auguste pivoted and hooked him for six in his next over
Campbell launched into Matthew Fisher and deposited him over cover for four before lofting Bracewell for a humongous six over mid-wicket.
The openers posted their 50 stand in 9.2, and after the first power play, the West Indies were 58 without loss.
Bracewell removed Auguste in the 11th over at 63-1; Auguste’s 18 lasted 27 balls and included a four and a six, and his demise brought Keacy Carty to the crease.
Santner bowled Campbell for 45 at 66-2.
The elegant right-hander from the island of St Maarten hit Bracewell back over his head for six to the delight of another disappointing crowd in sweltering heat.
Lennox bowled Shai Hope (7) and Sherfane Rutherford in the space of 11 runs as the home team slipped to 97-4 in the 19th over.
The 100 came up in the 20th over before Carty, who made 95 on Saturday, was bowled by Santner for 18 at 105-5.
Lennox then bowled Gudakesh Motie (1) and Matthew Ford (1) in quick succession, as two wickets fell for two runs, with the West Indies slipping to 117-7.
Amir Jangoo (24) was lbw to Bracewell at 133-8 before Alzarri Joseph (1) was run out.
Vitel Lawes missed a sweep at Lennox[r1.1] and was lbw, as West Indies lost wickets in clusters and had no meaningful partnerships once Auguste departed.
When the Black Caps began their reply, Will Young and Henry Nicholls added 35 before Young, who hit five boundaries in his 28, was lbw to Joseph in the eighth over.
Mark Chapman was run out for a duck at 51-2 after the 50 was posted in the 11th over.
Motie removed Nicholls (17) at 52-3, and the crowd, which had increased slightly after work, were on their feet and blowing horns.
Latham and Dean Foxcroft took the score to 94 with intelligent batting before left-arm spinner Khary Pierre bowled Foxcroft for a duck
Bracewell (24) and Latham (37) carried the Kiwis home with an unfinished 46-strand.
The final game in Guyana is scheduled for tomorrow, from 2:30 pm.