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Four New Zealand batters smashed half-centuries while James Neesham played a thunderous cameo as the Black Caps prevailed over West Indies by five wickets in the third ODI to win the series 2-1. The Men in Maroon's inconsistency was once again on full display as the team capitulated from a position of strength and ended up losing their 16th ODI in 2022. No team has lost more 50-over international matches this year than West Indies.
After New Zealand captain Tom Latham elected to field in a crunch decider, his decision backfired as Kiwi bowlers looked toothless against West Indies openers Shai Hope and Kyle Mayers. The duo handed the hosts a brilliant start by combining for 173 runs for the first wicket. New Zealand broke the partnership in the 35th over when Hope (51 runs off 100 balls) was caught by Lockie Ferguson off Trent Boult's bowling.
Mayer, who smashed his second ODI century, succumbed two balls later as Ferguson ended the West Indian's 105-run knock off 110 deliveries. From thereon, the Men in Maroon kept losing wickets at one end while captain Nicholas Pooran kept unleashing sixes from the other end.
Pooran smashed four fours and nine sixes in his breathtaking innings of 91 runs off 55 balls before Boult stopped the West Indian captain from registering a much-deserved hundred. After enjoying a fantastic start, the hosts could only manage 301/8 in 50 overs. The top three West Indian batters scored 247 runs out of the 301 among themselves, which accounts for 82% of the final score.
Boult finished with 3/53 while Mitchell Santner ended the game with two wickets. The Kiwi bowlers pulled things back at the ended and restricted the hosts within a gettable score.
In reply, New Zealand lost Finn Allen (3 runs off 9 balls) early, but Martin Guptill (57 runs off 64 balls) and Devon Conway (56 runs off 63 balls) combined for an 82-run stand for the second wicket, which put the Black Caps' run chase back on track. Guptill and Conway departed in quick succession which left New Zealand reeling at 128/3.
Captain Latham (69 off 75 balls) and Daryl Mitchell (63 runs off 49 balls) made sure that the work of their top order don't count for nothing. The duo registered a 120-run stand for the fourth wicket, which laid the foundation for a Neesham blitz at the end.
The Kiwi all-rounder powered four sixes and a four in his blistering 34-run knock off 11 balls and helped the Black Caps chase down the target with 17 balls to spare.
