Lawes impresses, but Windies batting implodes in six-wicket defeat to New Zealand

New Zealand moved to within one victory of clinching the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series after exploiting another dramatic West Indies batting collapse to secure a composed six-wicket win on Thursday at Providence in Guyana.

For the second straight match, the Caribbean side showed flashes of promise before succumbing to disciplined spin bowling, leaving teenage leg-spinner Vitel Lawes' encouraging performance with the ball as little more than a consolation in a defeat that handed the visitors a 2-1 series advantage.

Bright beginning ends in familiar collapse

Winning the toss on the same Providence surface used in the opening match, New Zealand captain Tom Latham had little hesitation in inviting West Indies to bat first, confident that another challenging pitch would favor his bowlers.

It initially appeared the hosts might finally answer head coach Daren Sammy's call to produce the substantial first-innings total their bowling attack desperately needed to defend. Instead, they suffered yet another collapse that has become an increasingly familiar storyline throughout the series.

The innings took an early emotional blow when opener John Campbell, on six, pulled up while sprinting for a single with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. Unable to continue, he was stretchered from the field, forcing West Indies to reorganize.

Akeem Auguste responded positively, striking several elegant boundaries on his way to 26 before Mitchell Santner produced an outstanding running catch off Jacob Duffy to remove him with the score at 38.

From there, New Zealand's spinners tightened their grip.

Shai Hope, looking comfortable at the crease, once again fell victim to Jayden Lennox's deceptive arm ball, his second dismissal to the delivery in as many matches, departing for eight. Sherfane Rutherford followed cheaply for four, leaving West Indies struggling at 72-3 in the 20th over.

Bracewell and Lennox trigger devastating finish

Keacy Carty and the recalled Shimron Hetmyer briefly restored hope with a composed partnership that carried West Indies to 121-3.

Hetmyer displayed the aggressive intent Sammy had demanded, twice launching Lennox over the leg side for sixes, while Carty anchored the innings with characteristic composure.

The recovery, however, unraveled almost instantly.

Carty, poised for a half-century, was trapped lbw for 48 by Michael Bracewell's sharply turning delivery. In Bracewell's very next over, Hetmyer attempted another maximum but found the fielder at deep square leg and departed for 26.

Those twin breakthroughs opened the floodgates.

West Indies collapsed spectacularly from 121-4 to 140-9, surrendering six wickets for just 19 runs. Lennox proved the chief destroyer, finishing with outstanding figures of 4-52 from his 10 overs while equaling the record for the most wickets taken by a New Zealand spinner in a bilateral ODI series.

The final six wickets tumbled in only 51 deliveries, with Gudakesh Motie and Alzarri Joseph both beaten by superb deliveries from the left-arm spinner.

Lawes sparks hope with another impressive display

Set just 141 for victory, New Zealand approached the chase cautiously as openers Will Young and Henry Nicholls negotiated the new-ball period without unnecessary risks.

Nicholls survived two lbw appeals after successful Decision Review System referrals against Motie and Joseph, but Lawes soon injected life into the contest.

The 19-year-old, appearing in only his third professional match, struck with just his second delivery, sending one skidding through to bowl Nicholls for 24.

His confidence continued to grow as he trapped Mark Chapman lbw for seven before inducing Young to drive loosely to cover for 23, reducing New Zealand to 77-3.

Khary Pierre then added to the pressure by bowling Daryl Mitchell, whose patient 49-ball stay ended with the visitors wobbling at 89-4.

Missed opportunity allows Black Caps to pull away

With momentum briefly swinging toward the hosts, Lawes continued to display the poise and improved control that have marked his emergence throughout the series.

Yet a pivotal eighth over altered the contest. Two full tosses allowed Latham and Dean Foxcroft to relieve the mounting pressure with boundary-scoring opportunities.

West Indies then let another crucial chance slip away.

Lawes appeared to have Foxcroft trapped leg before wicket with New Zealand still requiring 33 runs, but the hosts declined to review the umpire's decision. Television replays later confirmed there had been no bat involved and the ball would have struck halfway up leg stump.

The missed opportunity proved decisive.

Latham and Foxcroft capitalized fully, compiling an unbeaten fifth-wicket partnership of 52 to calmly steer New Zealand to victory with six wickets remaining and put the series firmly in their grasp.

Barbados showdown awaits

The defeat leaves West Indies facing a must-win scenario as the series shifts to Barbados for the final two matches.

While Lawes has emerged as one of the bright spots of the campaign with another mature display beyond his years, the hosts' recurring inability to withstand New Zealand's spin attack remains the defining concern.

Unless the batting unit finds a solution to the collapses that have repeatedly undermined promising starts, Sammy's side will see the series slip away despite continued encouragement from its young bowling talent.