Maddy Green guides New Zealand to series lead as spinners dominate

Maddy Green guided New Zealand to a series lead in Antigua in a game dominated by the spinners. Fran Jonas led the way for the visitors before West Indies captain Hayley Matthews responded with four wickets to give them some hope of defending a low total.

Matthews removed three of New Zealand's key batters - Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr - with just 11 on the board and soon added Georgia Plimmer which left them 20 for 4 in the sixth over.

However, the chase was steadied by Green and Lauren Down as the pair added 38 for the fifth wicket then Hayley Jensen accompanied Green the rest of the way as victory came with eight balls to spare. Green hit all six fours in New Zealand's chase with Plimmer also striking a six.

Matthews had dominated the early scoring during West Indies' innings as she made 30 of the 34 that came from the powerplay, but she skied to cover against the first ball after the fielding restrictions from Jonas.

Bates took her first international wickets in more than two years when she claimed Kyshona Knight and Cherry-Ann Fraser to finish with 2 for 5 from three overs. Although Amelia Kerr went at seven-an-over, between them New Zealand's spinners claimed 8 for 63 from 15 overs. In total, West Indies scored 59 in 14 overs after the powerplay.

"The pressure was on from the time we went out to bowl." Matthews said after the game. "I was focusing on hitting my areas, put my plans in and execute. Thankfully the wicket favoured spinners today. We didn't have enough runs on the road and it's something we have to seriously look at going into the last two T20Is. We need to have one of main batters batting deeper and accumulate more singles and better running between the wicket, especially through the middle overs."