West Indies win fifth ODI by 2 wickets; New Zealand take series 3-2

West Indies beat New Zealand by 2 wickets in the fifth One-Day International. New Zealand won the five-match series 3-2.

The opening fixture of the series went to West Indies, who secured a seven-wicket victory. New Zealand responded in Game 2 with a win by five wickets and followed that with a six-wicket success in Game 3. A victory in Game 4 gave New Zealand an unassailable lead, leaving the fifth match as the final contest in a series already decided in their favour.

In the concluding game, West Indies prevailed by 2 wickets, taking the match but not the series. That win narrowed the margin on the scoreboard, but New Zealand’s earlier results ensured they finished with three victories overall. The series therefore closed at 3-2 in New Zealand’s favour.

The sequence of results saw West Indies open strongly before New Zealand mounted a comeback across the middle fixtures. Game 2’s five-wicket win and Game 3’s six-wicket win shifted momentum to New Zealand, and their success in Game 4 secured the series title. The fifth match offered West Indies a final victory but did not alter the series outcome.

Across the five matches the contest produced alternating wins rather than a single dominant run from either side. New Zealand’s ability to convert the middle matches into victories proved decisive for the series result. West Indies’ triumph in the last game ensured a competitive finish to the tour.

The five-match series ended with New Zealand as series winners, 3-2, while West Indies took the final fixture by 2 wickets. The result confirms New Zealand’s series victory despite the hosts’ closing success.