Duffy's four-fer takes New Zealand to series win

New Zealand cantered to a simple eight-wicket win in Dunedin to seal the five-match T20I series against West Indies 3-1. The win was set up by Jacob Duffy's fifth four-fer in T20Is - with three wickets in an over - (4 for 35) which included three wickets from West Indies' top five batters. New Zealand then chased the target of 141 with 26 balls to spare after Tim Robinson's and Devon Conway's quick start in the PowerPlay.

Duffy might have picked up four in the match but he was smashed first ball for six by Shai Hope who followed it up with a four. Kyle Jamieson struck and picked up Alick Athanaze cheaply but was carted for two boundaries by Ackeem Auguste. But the third over changed the course of the game entirely. Duffy bounced out Hope before castling Auguste's leg-stump. Sherfane Rutherford then recklessly threw his wicket away to gift his wicket to Duffy as West Indies slipped to 21 for 4. The visitors rebuilt through Roston Chase and Rovman Powell and ended the PowerPlay on 47 for 4.

But Michael Bracewell broke through with the wicket of Powell. Chase, however, held one end up taking a liking to Ish Sodhi in particular while Jason Holder powered a massive six. But the duo fell within five balls of each other as the visitors slipped to 92 for 7. Romario Shepherd, who was on 1 off 7, accelerated gears and scored 35 off his next 15 balls which included three fours and three maximums before falling to Duffy. Neesham picked up Seales to wrap up the visitors' innings with a score of 140 on the board.

In reply, Tim Robinson got off the blocks in a flash with a boundary. He then took on Seales for a maximum and a four before smashing one out of the stadium. His partner Devon Conway also sliced one over backward point for a maximum. There was no stopping Robinson as he then went on to smash two boundaries and a six down the ground of Holder as New Zealand raced to 61 for 0 at the end of the PowerPlay.

Shepherd broke through with the wicket of Robinson. But Rachin Ravindra came out looking to continue the momentum set by Robinson. He hit two fours early on in his innings before sweetly timing a six over mid-wicket of Chase. Ravindra fell to Shamar Springer for a quick 21 which brought Mark Chapman to the crease. In his 100th T20I, he smashed two massive sixes to compound woes for Seales who ended with figures of 3-0-41-0. Conway who batted sensibly throughout the innings fittingly scored the winning runs for the hosts to complete the win.

B West Indies 140 in 18.4 overs (Roston Chase 38, Romario Shepherd 36; Jacob Duffy 4-35, James Neesham 2-31) lost to New Zealand 141/2 in 15.4 overs (Devon Conway 47*, Tim Robinson 45; Shamar Springer 1-8, Romario Shepherd 1-21) by 8 wickets