The Black Caps have turned around their fortunes in spectacular fashion with a comprehensive 88-run victory over the West Indies in St Kitts in the third one-day cricket international.
The result keeps the series alive, with the home side leading 2-1 ahead of the last two matches at the same venue on Sunday and Tuesday.
The Black Caps had suffered heavy defeats in two Twenty20 fixtures in Florida and in the first two one-dayers in Jamaica.
Put in to bat at Warner Park in Basseterre, they posted a total of 9-249, which looked short of competitive on a flat track and at a ground with short boundaries.
But they managed for the first time on tour to knock over the West Indies top order cheaply, including devastating opener Chris Gayle, who had grabbed a century and three half-centuries in the four previous matches.
Gayle’s departure at 11 after he edged a Tim Southee delivery to slip Rob Nicol left the home side at 2-33 and wickets continued to fall regularly.
When wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin was trapped leg before by Jacob Oram, the West Indies were reeling at 8-103 with just over half their 50 overs gone.
Tailender Andre Russell produced some lusty hitting with a quick-fire unbeaten 42 off 24 balls before the home side were dismissed for 161.
Opener Nicol was New Zealand’s top-scorer with 59, but when he was caught and bowled by spinner Marlon Samuel, the visitors were again in a precarious position at 5-125.
A 66-run sixth-wicket partnership by Nathan McCullum (50) and BJ Watling (40) steadied the ship.
However, Watling’s knock came at a price as he strained a thigh muscle when on five.
He received treatment and batted on, but didn’t go out to field, with Tom Latham taking over the gloves.
Team management say Watling will be assessed over the next 24 hours to determine his availability for the remainder of the series.