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.