For the second straight match, New Zealand held their nerves against the West Indies to claim the third T20I by nine runs in yet another exciting contest at the Saxton Oval in New Zealand.

New Zealand scored a total of 177 for nine from their 20 overs after electing to bat first.

The West Indies’ top order failed again in their run chase to see them slump to 88 for eight, until Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer rescued the innings, but fell just short to see them dismissed for 168 off the penultimate ball of the match.

It gave the home side a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

West Indies did well to restrict New Zealand to their eventual total after opener Devon Conway, who scored 56 off 34 balls, formed meaningful partnerships with Tim Robinson for the first wicket and then with Rachin Ravindra that put them at 97 for one in the 11th over.

But then, Shepherd got the wicket of Ravindra for 26,

A direct hit from Alick Athanaze ran out Conway, and Michael Bracewell was also run out to leave New Zealand 144 for four in the 16th over.

Daryl Mitchell struck 41 off 24 balls, which included three sixes and two fours, but New Zealand only gathered a further 33 runs from their final four overs, while losing five wickets.

Matthew Forde was the pick of the Windies’ bowlers with 2-20 from his four overs, while Jason Holder took 2-31.

In reply, West Indies’ opening pair of Amir Jangoo and Alick Athanaze began positively with 13 runs of the first over, but Jangoo’s stay at the crease was short-lived as he was bowled in the first ball of the next over by Jacob Duffy.

Four balls later, captain Shai Hope was caught by a delivery from Duffy to see the West Indies slip to 15 for two.

Athanaze and Ackeem Auguste added 38 runs for the third wicket before Athanaze edged a delivery from spinner Ish Sodhi to be caught for 31.

Sherfane Rutherford made just one before he was caught off spinner Michael Bracewell.

Sodhi then bowled Rovman Powell, and Auguste was run out to leave the visitors stumbling on 68 for six.

Jason Holder scored three runs before being dismissed by Mitchell Santner, and Forde hit a boundary but was then trapped lbw by Sodhi to put New Zealand firmly in control at 88 for eight.

However, Shepherd and Springer’s partnership of 78 runs in just over six overs renewed the hopes in the Windies’ chase.

Needing 24 runs from the last two overs, Shepherd smashed Duffy’s second and third balls of the penultimate over for a four and six.

Duffy then pulled off a spectacular diving catch to dismiss Springer off the last ball of the over for 39 off 20 balls and leave the score 166 for nine.

The Windies required 12 runs off the last over with Shepherd at the crease, but Jamieson bowled a spectacular final over by conceding just two runs, also claiming the wicket of Shepherd for 49 off 34 balls to end the match with one ball remaining.

Player-of-the-Match Sodhi ended with 3-34 and Duffy 3-36.