New Zealand beat West Indies in first T20 international
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New Zealand defeated the West Indies by five wickets in a rain-affected first Twenty20 international at Auckland's Eden Park on Friday.
The Black Caps finished on 179-5 after being set a target of 176 in a match where the innings were reduced to 16 overs because of persistent showers.
New Zealand bowler Lockie Ferguson was man of the match after claiming a career-best haul of 5-21.
West Indies captain Kieron Pollard was the stand-out performer for the tourists with an unbeaten 75 from 37 balls.
The next fixture in the three-match series is in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.
Earlier, captain Kieron Pollard smashed an unbeaten 75 to salvage the West Indies' innings Friday after New Zealand paceman Lockie Ferguson claimed a five-wicket haul in the first Twenty20 international in Auckland.
After losing the toss and being put into bat, the West Indies finished on 180 for seven in an innings that was reduced to 16 overs due to persistent showers.
The tourists made a flying start before Ferguson sparked a dramatic collapse, with the speedster finishing on career-best figures of five for 21.
Pollard responded with his own best performance in T20 internationals, a sparkling 75 from 37 balls that included eight sixes and four fours to set a competitive target of 181.
Before play commenced, both sides took a knee in a gesture against racism, with the West Indies players each raising a black-gloved fist.
West Indies opener Andre Fletcher smashed back-to-back sixes off debutant Kyle Jamieson, who conceded 18 from his first over in international T20.
The tourists were even more brutal against Hamish Bennett, plundering 29 runs from a nightmare over for the fast bowler that included two no balls and a wide.
The tourists were 58 without loss before Ferguson broke through and clean bowled Fletcher on 34.
The tourists then lost five wickets for a single run over the course of 11 balls, with Ferguson claiming three scalps and Southee two.
Pollard rebuilt the West Indies' innings virtually single-handedly, clubbing 23 off Jimmy Neesham's opening over, including three sixes.
Scoreboard
Final scoreboard in the first Twenty20 international between New Zealand and the West Indies at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday:
A. Fletcher b Ferguson 34
B. King c Neesham b Southee 13
S. Hetmyer c Siefert b Ferguson 0
N. Pooran lbw b Ferguson 1
R. Powell c Ferguson b Southee 0
K. Pollard not out 75
F. Allen c Siefert b Ferguson 30
K. Paul c Siefert b Ferguson 0
S. Cottrell not out 1
Extras (lb6, nb4, w16) 26
Total (7 wkts, 16 overs) 180
Did not bat: K. Williams, O. Thomas.
Fall of wickets: 1-58 (Fletcher), 2-58 (Hetmyer), 3-58 (King), 4-58 (Powell), 5-59 (Pooran), 6-143 (Allen), 7-146 (Paul)
Bowling: Southee 3-0-22-2 (3w); Jamieson 3-0-26-0 (3w); Bennett 2.3-0-50-0 (5w, 3nb); Ferguson 4-0-21-5 (3w); Santner 2-0-23-0 (1nb); Neesham 1.3-0-32-0 (2w)
New Zealand (target 176)
M. Guptill c Pooran b Cottrell 5
T. Siefert c Powell b Thomas 17
D. Conway c Thomas b Pollard 41
G. Phillips b Thomas 22
R. Taylor run out (Allen) 0
J. Neesham not out 48
M. Santner not out 31
Extras (b4, lb2, nb6, w3) 15
Total (5 wkts, 15.2 overs) 179
Did not bat: T. Southee, K. Jamieson, L. Ferguson, H. Bennett.
Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Guptill), 2-34 (Sierfert), 3-62 (Thomas), 4-63 (Taylor), 5-140 (Conway)
Bowling: Cottrell 4-0-30-1 (1w); Allen 2-0-32-0; Thomas 3-0-23-2 (2w), Williams 2-0-33-0 (nb1), Paul 3-0-39-0 (nb5); Pollard 1.2-0-16-1
Result: New Zealand win by five wickets
Player of the match: Lockie Ferguson
Series: New Zealand lead the three-match series 1-0
Toss: New Zealand
Umpires: Chris Brown (NZL), Wayne Knights (NZL)
TV umpire: Shaun Haig (NZL)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)