Eden Carson

Batting first, the West Indies had a difficult time scoring going as New Zealand bowlers were much more consistent in their line and length.

Skipper Hayley Matthews struck one boundary on her way to eight off 13 balls before she had a big nick behind to keeper Izzy Gaze of Hayley Jensen. Also, Aaliyah Alleyne, who punished the White Ferns bowlers in the first match, struggled to get going.

Eden Carson who replaced Lea Tahuhu in the White Ferns team, had Alleyne caught for 13 which came off 19 balls.

Kyshona Knight and Chinelle Henry struck up a 31-run partnership when the home side needed it the most. Knight fell eight runs short of a half-century, making 42, which included five fours.

Henry, meanwhile, made 24 off 22 balls with two fours and a six and included 18 runs from the last over which helped West Indies Women to 107-5.

Jensen was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand, finishing with figures of 4-0-24-3, followed by Eden Carson with 4-0-12-2.

In reply, Suzie Bates smacked six fours on her way to 54 off 61 balls and was well supported by Amelia Kerr with 21 from 25 balls. The visitors looked set for victory before two wickets from Cherry-Ann Fraser in the 18th over, swung the match back in favour of the West Indies.

However, the 19th over went for 10 runs which meant New Zealand needed seven runs in the last over, which they achieved with one ball to spare.

Fraser had the best bowling figures, finishing with 2.5-0-13-1. Off-spinner Karishma Ramharack 4-0-23-1.

“I got a promotion to bat at (number) three, so my role was to bat as deep as possible,” Knight explained afterwards.

“My plan was to back myself and to rotate the strike for the hitters and help get the team to a decent total. It was extremely hot there today, probably one of the hottest we’ve experienced so far, and the ball was holding on the pitch more than usual, so that made batting a bit tricky. We’re looking forward to regrouping and coming back for the third match.”

The two teams will return to the same venue on Sunday for the third T20I in the five-match series. The first ball is at 1:30 pm Eastern Caribbean/12:30 pm Jamaica time.

 Matthews, having opened the innings, was the leading scorer for the West Indies with 30 that were restricted to 93-9 from their 20 overs.

Shakibi Gajnabi contributed 19 while Kyshona Knight scored 16 and Chinelle Henry, 13, but the West Indies Women were unable to get the score beyond 100 in another abject performance with the bat.

Fran Jonas was the leading wicket-taker for New Zealand with 3-16. Suzie Bates 2-5 and Eden Carson 2-14 also played key roles in helping to restrict the home team.

Needing 94 for victory, Matthews tormented the batters while taking the first four New Zealand wickets with just 20 runs on the board. However, Moddy Green scored an unbeaten 49 and with Lauren Down put together a 38-run fifth-wicket stand that got New Zealand back on course.

Down was eventually dismissed by Afy Fletcher for 15, leaving Green and Hayley Jensen to take New Zealand to 94-5 and victory with eight balls to spare.

Jensen remained not out on eight at the end.

Matthews ended with 4-12 while Fletcher finished with figures of 1-12.