Jayden Lennox stars again as New Zealand take 2-1 lead

New Zealand turned in another clinical bowling display to dismantle West Indies for 140 before completing a six-wicket win to take a 2-1 series lead in the third ODI in Guyana. On another turner, it was Jayden Lennox who did the star turn again, following his maiden five-for in the second ODI with 4/52 to run through the lower order, while the batters got the job done in the 40th over of the chase.

New Zealand won another crucial toss and asked West Indies to bat first. After a steady start, the hosts were dealt a big blow with opener John Campbell hurting his left hamstring while completing a tight run in the sixth over. He had to be stretchered off the field and did not return to bat, while Ackeem Auguste fell after a purposeful start of 26, with Mitchell Santner completing a sensational catch tracing back at mid-off.

Santner then deployed himself and Lennox in tandem, applying the brakes further as the scoring rate eventually dipped just below the four-run mark with Lennox cleaning up skipper Shai Hope. Sherfane Rutherford didn't last long either and West Indies were in need of a resurrection at 72/3 after the 20th over. Keacy Carty broke free with a couple of boundaries in the 26th and another one in the next over, before Shimron Hetmyer unshackled himself with two sixes off Lennox.

But things soon came apart for West Indies as they crumbled from 121/3 (effectively four down as Campbell did not return to bat) to 140 all out. Michael Bracewell trapped Carty leg before for 48, with ball tracking returning umpire's call on hitting, shortly after which he induced a miscue off Hetmyer, who perished for 26. Lennox then took over, dismissing Keemo Paul leg before and castling Gudakesh Motie three deliveries later. He then produced an unplayable delivery to bowl Alzarri Joseph in his final over, shortly after which Santner wrapped up the innings with the wicket of Khary Pierre as West Indies were bundled out one delivery into the 38th over.

New Zealand weren't quick off the blocks in the chase, managing just 27 runs in the first nine overs. But they did well to keep wickets in hand before Henry Nicholls picked up consecutive fours off Joseph. Teenage left-arm wristspinner Vitel Lawes emerged as the pick of the bowlers again, taking just two deliveries to strike as Nicholls was bowled on the cut. He then removed Mark Chapman with another straight ball, trapping him LBW for 7. But Daryl Mitchell came out showing intent, picking up three boundaries early in his innings to pump some momentum into the chase.

At the other end, opener Will Young broke free with a boundary but chipped one to cover to hand Lawes his third. Lawes was then given a brief break and returned the moment Pierre bowled Mitchell, with the right-hander hanging back as the arm ball kept low. It was a sign of the wicket continuing to remain challenging to bat on, although Tom Latham and Dean Foxcroft dispatched a couple of full tosses from Lawes to release the pressure. The scoring tempo remained slow, but New Zealand rallied on the fifth-wicket pair to inch closer to the target.

Over nine overs passed without a boundary, with Latham ending the drought with a sweep. Foxcroft added one more of his own to bring up the 50-run partnership before New Zealand got home with 63 deliveries to spare.

Brief Scores:West Indies 140 in 37.1 overs (Keacy Carty 48; Jayden Lennox 4-52, Mitchell Santner 2-15, Michael Bracewell 2-33) lost to New Zealand 141/4 in 39.3 overs (Tom Latham 31*, Daryl Mitchell 28; Vitel Lawes 3-39) by 6 wickets.