At Nelson, January 4, 2014. New Zealand won by 58 runs (D/L). Toss: New Zealand.
New Zealand took the series lead with a solid all-round performance in the first one-day international at the Saxton Oval. Guptill struggled at times for fluency, but anchored the innings with 81 from 119 balls, his first significant contribution after four single-figure scores since returning from injury. West Indies did not help themselves by dropping Ryder twice (one a sitter to Ramdin) in the first ten overs, both off the luckless Holder, who later had a third chance spilled when Brendon McCullum was reprieved first ball at deep square. Taylor provided some middle-order impetus, before New Zealand's total assumed daunting proportions when both West Indian openers fell for ducks. Edwards and Simmons made a decent fist of rebuilding, but were never on top of the askingrate, or the D/L par score as rain threatened. As at Queenstown, New Zealand hustled through some overs of spin to reach 20. And when Simmons picked out deep midwicket, the game was up, well before the weather closed in.
Man of the Match: M. J. Guptill.