An under-strength New Zealand side pulled off a superb 88-run win in the third game of their five-match one-day series against the West Indies on Wednesday.

The Kiwis – who now trail 2-1 – made 249 batting first with man of the match, opener Rob Nicol, top-scoring with 59 while the hosts never got any momentum going and were bowled out for 161 at Warner Park in St Kitts.

Crucial to keeping the West Indies’ batting quiet was paceman Tim Southee, who induced destructive opener Chris Gayle into edging to Martin Guptill in the slips for just 11.

It was the first time in the five international tour games they have played – there were two Twenty20 matches prior to this series – that Gayle had failed to pass 50.

The New Zealand top order had all failed apart from Nicol and it was left to Nathan McCullum to boost their total to something approaching competitive as he smashed an attractive 50 while enjoying a 66-run partnership with BJ Watling for the sixth wicket.

Watling’s effort of 40 was particularly praiseworthy as he tore a muscle in a leg to add to his side’s injury woes.

Gayle’s early dismissal wasn’t compensated for by any of his fellow West Indian batsmen, who failed to contribute any significant runs and they were left without hope by the time they had been reduced to 8-103.

Only some swashbuckling hitting by Andre Russell gave the home crowd something to cheer about as he hit an unbeaten 42 in a futile cause.

The fourth game of the series is in St Kitts on Saturday.