Cricket: It was 'a total team effort' - Bravo

Bravo and Kirk Edwards hit 106 and 123 not-out respectively, sharing a record-setting 211-run fourth wicket stand. Photo / Christine Cornege

West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo asked his team to dig deep ahead of tonight's deciding ODI against New Zealand, and he got a rousing response.

Having been well beaten in the last two rain-affected games, the West Indies rattled up their highest ODI total, 363 for four, then rolled New Zealand for just 160 for a thumping 203-run win at Seddon Park. That enabled them to square the five-game rubber 2-2 and go into the two T20 games which end the tour in good heart.

"I just asked the guys to give 100 per cent, that the result would take care of itself, and enjoy the challenge," man of the match Bravo said.

"It was a total team effort. We did not go into too much of what the New Zealand team can do but tried focus on what we can do as a team."

Bravo and Kirk Edwards hit 106 and 123 not out respectively, sharing a record-setting 211-run fourth wicket stand, the best by the West Indies against New Zealand for any wicket.

They clattered New Zealand's bowlers around Seddon Park in a spirited, heady performance, which was kick started by opener Kieran Powell's fine 73 off 44 balls.

"The team is moving in a direction where we trust and believe in each other and are enjoying each other's success," Bravo said.

"We've still got a long way to go, but all I keep stressing is we have the talent but at times we don't play to our true potential."

New Zealand certainly didn't play anywhere near their best, leaving captain Brendon McCullum angry and frustrated.

"There were not any of the traits we want to be known for as a team," McCullum said.

"We are inconsistent but even still you don't expect to be blown off the field after pretty good performances in the last couple of games. A loss of that size is pretty tough to handle."

The lacklustre bowling left the batsmen too tall a hill to climb and they were dismissed in 29.5 overs, left arm spinner Nikita Miller grabbing four for 45 from his 10 overs.

McCullum said he had no inkling of what was to follow before the start.

''But once we started to get under pressure we didn't respond as well as we should.

"We're not a world class team. We need to be 'on' all day, every day. It was not through a lack of effort, but we missed that sharpness of the last few games."

He praised the West Indian batting - "they came out swinging and put us on the back foot pretty quickly. But we've got to be more resilient than that".