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Scott Styris ripped through the West Indies batting line up to hand the BLACKCAPS an unlikely seven run win in the ICC World Twenty20 warm up match at Guyana National Stadium in Guyana.
The West Indies looked in complete control at 86 for one in pursuit of 125 but when Styris had Dewayne Bravo caught for just three in the 12th over the wheels fell off with the hosts bundled out in the final over for 117.
Medium-pacer, Stryis, went on to take the wickets of Ramnaresh Sarwan (1), Narsingh Deonarine (1) and Darren Sammy (2) to finish with remarkable figures of four for 18.
Opener, Shivnarine Chanderpaul very nearly carried his team to victory but his departure for a defiant 53 off 47 deliveries spelt the end as the tail fell cheaply.
Shane Bond was the other stand out bowler with two for 15, while Daniel Vettori also took two scalps but bore the brunt of the aggressive West Indian batsmen and was hit for 46 runs from his four overs.
Earlier, the unpredictable South American rainy season again threatened early, with the heavens opening up 20 minutes before the start of play. Luckily the rain, and the covers, departed as quickly as they had arrived. Play was delayed, but slightly longer than necessary as someone was found to turn on the floodlights.
The BLACKCAPS made a horror start after winning the toss and electing to bat, first losing Brendon McCullum for six and then Vettori, coming in at number three, for a golden duck with the score on 10.
It only got worse when Aaron Redmond (5), Styris (3), Martin Guptill (5) and Gareth Hopkins (1) went in quick succession to them reeling at 37 for six after 8.4 overs.
Ross Taylor and Jacob Oram then did what no batsman had done before them, break the double-digit barrier. Taylor, fresh off the plane, was outstanding, smashing the West Indian bowling to all ends of the park with one huge six clearing the stadium roof causing a delay play while a search party retrieved the ball.
Taylor was eventually dismissed for 50 off 35 deliveries, while Oram showed some welcome return to batting form with a rearguard 46 from 40 - finishing the innings with some powerful flat sixes into the crowd.
The BLACKCAPS kick off the tournament against Sri Lanka on Friday 28 April (Saturday 30 April NZ time).
