New Zealand secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the one-day international series against West Indies with a five-wicket victory in Napier on Wednesday, powered by a rare century partnership between Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, while West Indies’ Shai Hope scored a remarkable century in a losing cause.The match, shortened to 34 overs per side due to rain, saw West Indies post 247-9 after being put in to bat first. Hope’s outstanding innings of 109 included 13 fours and four sixes.Conway scored 90 from 84 balls and Ravindra contributed 56 from 46 deliveries, forming a partnership of 106 runs from 100 balls. This marked New Zealand’s first century partnership by an opening pair in 73 matches spanning five years.Hope achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 6,000 ODI runs during his innings, becoming the second-fastest West Indies batter to reach this mark after Viv Richards. His century against New Zealand completed his collection of hundreds against all test-playing nations.“I always look at it this way, I got 109. It was still not enough. I needed to get 120 or 130 for us to win. That’s how I look at it,” Hope said.Tom Latham and Mitchell Santner helped chase down the target with important contributions of 39 and 34 runs respectively. New Zealand reached 248-5 with three balls remaining, aided by a crucial no-ball from Jayden Seales in the final over.Hope’s innings included an anxious period where he was stuck on 90 for nearly three overs as partners fell at the other end. The West Indies found themselves at 235-9 when Shamar Springer was dismissed.Seales managed a single to give Hope the strike, who then completed his century with a six off Kyle Jamieson. The century was the fifth fastest by a West Indies batter in ODIs.The victory extended New Zealand’s impressive record of 11 consecutive series wins at home. The match conditions were challenging, with humid weather causing significant ball swing early in the innings.The final match of the series is scheduled for Saturday, with New Zealand already having clinched the series.
