New Zealand sweep West Indies as pace attack runs riot in Hamilton

New Zealand's four-man pace pack ripped through West Indies' batting once again, sealing a 3-0 sweep in Hamilton and extending a dominant home run that now includes 11 consecutive bilateral ODI series wins. The visitors were bowled out for 161 after choosing to bat, leaving nearly 14 overs unused, before the hosts survived early turbulence in the chase to get home with four wickets and almost 20 overs to spare.

Matt Henry led the demolition with 4 for 43, striking twice in the fifth over to remove Ackeem Auguste and Keacy Carty. Kyle Jamieson then went around the wicket and used the extra bounce at Seddon Park to have John Campbell nicking off for 26. Shai Hope briefly steadied West Indies with three boundaries in his 16 before Zak Foulkes, replacing the injured Nathan Smith, had him glancing an inswinger down the leg side to the 'keeper, leaving the innings in early disarray at 77 for 4.

From there, New Zealand's quicks shifted to a short-ball plan, pounding the pitch with cross-seamers and scrambled-seam deliveries. Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase and Shamar Springer were all bounced out, and Chase even required treatment after Jamieson thudded one into his glove. Henry returned to finish the job, having Chase top-edge to extra cover. Khary Pierre and Jayden Seales added 18 for the last wicket, but Henry eventually broke through to end the innings. Mitchell Santner chipped in too, picking up Justin Greaves and Matthew Forde in his first over.

West Indies hit back with the new ball. Jayden Seales tempted Devon Conway into a hook that found long leg, and Matthew Forde then prolonged Will Young's lean run. Forde also had Rachin Ravindra chopping on for 14. When Chase had Tom Latham caught at mid-wicket, New Zealand were 70 for 4 and feeling the absence of the injured No.1 ODI batter Daryl Mitchell.

Mark Chapman and Michael Bracewell, however, dragged the chase back on course. Chapman started slowly before shifting gears and reaching his fifty off 58. He hammered Forde for 4, 6, 4, 4 in the 27th over, a burst that flipped the chase decisively. Bracewell matched him stroke for stroke in a 75-run stand off just 48 balls, their counterattack keeping left-arm spinner Pierre, brought in for the injured Romario Shepherd, completely out of the attack. Pierre didn't bowl at all as New Zealand edged closer to the finish line.

Chapman and Mitchell Santner fell with the finish line in sight, but Bracewell stayed unbeaten and, along with Foulkes, wrapped up the chase comfortably. It capped another authoritative home performance from New Zealand, who have now lost only two ODIs at home since the start of 2020.

Brief scores: West Indies 161 in 36.2 overs (Roston Chase 38; Matt Henry 4-43) lost to New Zealand 162/6 in 30.3 overs (Mark Chapman 64; Michael Bracewell 40*; Jayden Seales 2-35) by four wickets