The result provided a positive finish for the Caribbean side after a challenging series and highlighted the impact of experienced batter Shimron Hetmyer, whose unbeaten innings guided the team across the finish line.

Chasing 269, West Indies completed the target in 47.3 overs despite losing wickets at crucial intervals. Hetmyer remained unbeaten on 69 and was named Player of the Match for his composed knock under pressure.

Earlier, New Zealand recovered from a shaky start to post 268 for nine after being asked to bat.

The visitors suffered an early setback when Henry Nicholls was dismissed for 10 with only 16 runs on the board. However, opener Will Young and Nick Kelly steadied the innings with an important partnership that rebuilt momentum after the early breakthrough.

The pair added 86 runs for the second wicket and helped New Zealand regain control. Young went on to score 56, while Kelly contributed 64 as the visitors crossed the 100-run mark.

Even after both set batters departed, New Zealand continued to accumulate runs through the middle overs. Tom Latham played a significant role in maintaining the scoring rate and added a valuable 69-run innings. His contribution ensured the visitors remained on course for a competitive total.

Captain Mitchell Santner and Nathan Smith added useful runs towards the end of the innings, helping New Zealand finish on 268/9 from their allotted 50 overs.

For West Indies, Alzarri Joseph and Vitel Lewis claimed two wickets each, while the remaining bowlers chipped in with timely breakthroughs.

The chase began positively for the home side.

Openers Alick Athanaze and Justin Greaves provided a solid foundation and added more than fifty runs before New Zealand struck back. Despite the promising start, West Indies soon lost wickets in quick succession and found themselves under pressure.

Keacy Carty and captain Shai Hope got starts but were unable to convert them into substantial scores. At one stage, the hosts were reduced to 123 for four, bringing New Zealand back into the contest.

The turning point came through a crucial partnership between Sherfane Rutherford and Shimron Hetmyer.

The duo counterattacked effectively and added 95 runs for the fifth wicket. Their stand not only repaired the innings but also shifted momentum firmly in West Indies' favour.

Rutherford played an aggressive knock of 61 before being stumped by Tom Latham off the bowling of Michael Bracewell. By then, however, the hosts had moved significantly closer to the target.

With Rutherford back in the pavilion, Hetmyer took responsibility for steering the chase. He paced his innings carefully, mixing caution with timely boundaries, and remained unbeaten until the winning runs were scored.

His 69 not out proved decisive as West Indies crossed the target with more than two overs remaining.

For New Zealand, Jacob Duffy and Jaden Lennox were the standout bowlers, taking three wickets each. Despite their efforts, the visitors were unable to defend the total in the closing stages.

Although West Indies celebrated victory in the final match, New Zealand finished the series with the overall honours after winning three of the five games. The visitors also collected individual awards, with Jaden Lennox being named Player of the Series for his consistent performances throughout the contest.

The result gives West Indies valuable confidence heading into upcoming international assignments, while New Zealand will be encouraged by securing a series win away from home despite the setback in the final fixture.

After being asked to bat first, West Indies appeared well placed at one stage but suffered a dramatic collapse. The hosts eventually finished on 140/9, losing six wickets for just 19 runs during the latter stages of the innings.

The collapse proved decisive as New Zealand chased down the target with relative comfort, reaching 141/4 and securing an important victory ahead of the final two matches.

West Indies' innings suffered an early setback when opener John Campbell was forced to retire hurt in the sixth over. While attempting a single, Campbell appeared to suffer a hamstring injury and had to leave the field with assistance, disrupting the home side's momentum.

Despite the setback, Casey Carty and Shimron Hetmyer rebuilt the innings impressively. The pair steadied the batting effort and guided West Indies to 121/3, putting the hosts in a strong position to post a competitive total.

However, the turning point arrived when New Zealand's spinners tightened their grip on the contest.

Captain Michael Bracewell first trapped Carty leg-before wicket, breaking a crucial partnership. In the following over, Hetmyer attempted to accelerate the scoring but was caught in the deep while trying to clear the boundary.

From that point onward, the innings unraveled rapidly.

Jaden Lennox once again emerged as New Zealand's standout bowler. The spinner, who had claimed a five-wicket haul in the previous match, followed it up with figures of 4/52. His spell dismantled the lower middle order and helped trigger the collapse that left West Indies well below a competitive score.

The performance also saw Lennox equal New Zealand's record for the most wickets by a spinner in a bilateral ODI series, underlining his growing importance in the team's bowling attack.

Chasing 141, New Zealand did not have everything their own way.

West Indies fought back with the ball and reduced the visitors to 77/3. Nineteen-year-old spinner Vitelle Lawrence impressed on ODI duty, removing Henry Nicholls with a delivery that shattered the stumps. Mark Chapman and Will Young also departed, giving the hosts a brief opportunity to push for an unlikely victory.

A key moment came when New Zealand required 33 more runs for victory. Dean Foxcroft was struck on the pads by Lawrence, but the on-field umpire ruled the delivery as runs rather than an LBW appeal. West Indies opted not to review the decision.

Television replays later suggested the ball would have gone on to hit the leg stump, meaning a successful DRS review could have given the hosts another breakthrough at a crucial stage.

Instead, New Zealand capitalised on the reprieve.

Captain Tom Latham anchored the chase with a composed unbeaten 51 off 53 deliveries. He found solid support from Dean Foxcroft as the pair added an unbroken 52-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

The duo absorbed the pressure effectively and ensured there were no further setbacks. A couple of loose deliveries from Lawrence helped ease the tension, and New Zealand eventually crossed the finish line without losing another wicket.

The victory gives New Zealand a commanding position in the series with two matches remaining. Another win in the fourth ODI would secure the series for the visitors.

For West Indies, the defeat will be particularly frustrating given their strong position at 121/3. The batting collapse exposed familiar issues in the middle and lower order, and the team now faces a must-win situation heading into the remaining games.

The final two ODIs will be played in Barbados, where West Indies must win both matches to keep their hopes of a series victory alive. New Zealand, meanwhile, will aim to maintain their momentum and seal the series at the earliest opportunity.