KEY POINTS:
New Zealand have beaten the West Indies in the fifth and final one-day cricket international by nine runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method at McLean Park here today to claim the series 2-1.
Originally set 294 for victory after the West Indies made 293 for nine when asked to
bat first, New Zealand were 211 for five after 35 overs when drizzle and fading light forced players from the field.
When the players retreated the par score was 202.
The West Indies innings was spearheaded by captain Chris Gayle's 135 - his 19th ODI ton - and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who scored 94.
The pair added 170 for the third wicket off 158 balls to enable the West Indies to compile their highest score on New Zealand soil - eclipsing the 282 made at Christchurch in 2 000.
In reply New Zealand started strongly with Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum adding 59 for first wicket in just 5.3 overs.
Ryder made 21 from 23 and McCullum 41 from 28 while Martin Guptill, following on from his century on debut in Auckland last Saturday made a brisk 43 to keep New Zealand well ahead of the run-rate.
However the loss of Daniel Flynn for 21 and Neil Broom for a golden duck in the 29th over as the weather closed in, turned a 21-run advantage under Duckworth-Lewis to a seven-run deficit in two deliveries.
Ross Taylor, who finished unbeaten on 48, resuscitated New Zealand when he struck two boundaries off Lionel Baker in the 34th over as the fast bowler leaked 15 runs from the first over of the batting power play to put New Zealand in front by three runs - an advantage they extended in the last six balls delivered by Darren Powell before the covers were summoned.
Grant Elliott also gleaned key runs from Baker to end unbeaten on a valuable 14.
Powell's double strike gave him expensive figures of three for 66 from 10 overs.
For New Zealand Mark Gillespie took four for 58.
The series has been marred by rain since the opening match was washed out in Queenstown before the West Indies won game two by five wickets after rain reduced the contest in Christchurch to 28 overs per side.
New Zealand squared the series in Wellington when winning by seven wickets - the only game unaffected by the weather. The penultimate match in Auckland last Saturday was also abandoned.
Earlier the test series was shared after both matches were drawn, as was the Twenty20 format after both sides won a game apiece.
- NZPA