Trent Boult finished with career-best figures of 4-34 off his 10 overs
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New Zealand left-arm seamer Trent Boult took a career-best seven wickets to not only lead his side to a 204-run win over the West Indies in Christchurch, but also hand them an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
Boult’s figures of 7-34 are the second-best by a New Zealand player in ODIs and is only behind Tim Southee’s 7-33 against England in the 2015 World Cup.
Being put in to bat first, New Zealand got off to a solid start as openers George Worker and Colin Munro amassed a 50-run partnership before Munro was dismissed by Sheldon Cottrell for 30.
Even though Neil Broom fell shortly after for six runs, Worker and Ross Taylor steadied things with a 58-run stand, during which Worker brought up his fifty.
George Worker made his highest score in ODIs
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However, he was unable to make the most of it as he was sent packing by Ronsford Beaton for a career-best 58, which came off 53 balls and included four boundaries and two sixes.
Stand-in captain Tom Latham was caught behind off the bowling of West Indies captain Jason Holder for 20, while Taylor went on to make 57 off 66 balls, which included five boundaries, before he suffered the same fate as Latham.
Ross Taylor struck his 39th half-century in ODI cricket
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Henry Nicholls and Todd Astle gave New Zealand a major spark towards the end of their innings as they put together a 130-run partnership, during which Nicholls surpassed his fifty and Astle was on the verge of bringing up his own.
However, disaster struck when Astle was on 49 as he was clean bowled by Cottrell.
Nicholls, meanwhile, ended up scoring a career-best 83 not out, which came off 62 and included seven boundaries and two sixes, as New Zealand finished on 325/6.
Henry Nicholls scored his third ODI fifty
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Cottrell was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Holder snapped up two and Beaton chipped in with one.
Chasing 326 to win, the West Indies never really got going as Boult scythed through their top order, taking out Kyle Hope, Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope.
With the West Indies struggling at 52/4, they managed to add 18 runs to their score before Jason Mohammed was caught and bowled by Lockie Ferguson for 18.
Ferguson struck again the very next ball as he cleaned up Rovman Powell for a golden duck.
Despite Ashley Nurse making a valiant 27, the West Indies continued to lose wickets in a hurry and were eventually bundled out for 121.
Boult was easily the most successful bowler with seven wickets, while Ferguson claimed three.
Holder was disappointed with his side’s performance, and said: “We didn’t play good cricket today. We bowled reasonably well but let ourselves down in the last ten overs. Having said that, it was a chaseable total but we didn’t bat well.
“Ahead of Boxing Day, we need to address our batting. We need to bat better, and think of game scenarios. Look to make amends in two days. We’ve got a quiet team lunch planned for Christmas.”
Latham was thrilled to have wrapped up the series, and said: “The way Nicholls and Todd (Astle) batted, it helped us come back after a poor start. And the way Trent bowled, remarkable. Captaining in front of my home crowd is something I can’t describe. Looking forward to the Boxing Day ODI. We have guys who can bowl 150 kph downhill, and having them makes my life easy.”
Boult was named Man of the Match, and said: “Little bit of movement early on, but didn’t expect seven wickets. The intensity in white-ball cricket is more than Tests because the batsmen want to take you on. Gotta be sharp on your feet. Used some short balls today. It’s good to play the game, and that everyone coming in is doing their jobs. Lockie’s done very well, he’s had a great domestic season.”