Guyana: West Indies beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the first one-day international at the Providence Stadium on Saturday, thanks to a blistering performance by Alsari Joseph and Keezy Cardy and captain Shai Hope.
Chasing a target of 268, knock-out half-centuries from Cardy and Hope eased past the mark with 7 wickets in hand in 48.5 overs.
Cardy top-scored with 95 off 112 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes while Hope remained unbeaten on 87 off 92 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes.
Opener John Campbell scored 11 off 16 balls with 2 fours before Akeem Auguste scored 38 off 58 balls with 4 fours.
Sherfan Rutherford scored an unbeaten 22 off 16 balls, including a four and a six.
For the New Zealand side, Jacob Duffy, Jaden Lennox and Michael Bracewell took a wicket each, but could not prevent the home side from taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
Earlier, New Zealand were bowled out for 267 in 49.5 overs despite a half-century from Daryl Mitchell and useful contributions from Will Young, Michael Bracewell, Henry Nicholls and Mark Chapman.
Mitchell top-scored with 65 off 73 balls with 7 fours and a six, while opener Young missed out on a half-century, scoring 49 off 63 balls with 5 fours.
Bracewell scored 29 runs off 31 balls including 3 fours while Nicholls and Chapman scored 27 runs each.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham scored 25 runs off 30 balls with a four, while skipper Mitchell Santner scored 21 off 17 balls, including a six.
Nathan Smith managed just five runs off nine balls, Jacob Duffy ducked out and Matthew Fisher managed just one run.
Alzari Joseph took 4/41 in 8.5 overs for West Indies. Debutant Vittal Lawes took 3 wickets, Gudakesh Moti took 2 wickets and Kari Pierre took one wicket.