New Zealand bowlers delivered their game to beat West Indies by 50 runs (D/L method) to square the series on Friday at Bridgetown.
West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran won the toss and elected to bat first on a wicket that will have a considerable amount of help for the spinners as seen in the 1st ODI of the series, with the match played on the same surface.
New Zealand got a massive set-back with the series on the line, having lost the first ODI as their regular captain Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the match with a niggle and Tom Latham taking over the captaincy duties.
Glenn Phillips will replace Williamson with James Nesham coming in for Lockie Ferguson.
New Zealand made 212 batting first and Stand-in captain Tom Latham was among three batsmen to fall early as New Zealand struggled to 31-3 in the 10th over.
He was out for a three-ball duck while Martin Guptill fell for 3 and Devon Conway for 6.
The 23-year-old Allen revived the innings in a 84-run partnership with Daryl Mitchell (41) for the fourth wicket.
The pair stayed together for 20 overs to steer New Zealand into a stronger position at 115-4 when Mitchell mis-hit an attempted slog over mid-wicket and was caught at square leg from the bowling of spinner Kevin Sinclair.
New Zealand failed to build on that promising position. Allrounder Michael Bracewell (6) and the power hitters Phillips (9) and Neesham (1) came and went quickly.
Allen finally was out for 96 from the first ball of the 41st over when New Zealand was 165-7.
He had faced 117 balls and hit three sixes and seven fours, taking many of his runs from the fast bowlers behind square leg.
Boult finally was out for 16, giving off spinner Sinclair his fourth wicket of the innings. Sinclair finished with 4 for 41 as spinners shared six wickets.
In chasing, West Indies were in dire straits at 27-6, potentially facing their lowest-ever total in a one-day international, until a long rain break and bold late-order batting changed the course of the match on Friday.
When the rain stopped late in the evening at Kensington Oval, the West Indies, who were 63-7 at the break, were left to chase 212 from only 51 overs.
They found an unusual hero in Yanick Cariah who posted a half century in his first innings in an ODI and shared an 85-run partnership with Alzarri Joseph (49) which raised the hopes for the home team.
Joseph fell with the total 157-9 and Cariah was the last man out for 52 with the total 161 to make Sunday third international the series decider.
“Very pleasing, we spoke about being consistent. The bowlers did the job for us. It’s been nice coming out here. Kevin with that performance, it makes a lot easier. We were in deep trouble when we lost six wickets in the powerplay.” West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran said.
“Having said that, Alzarri and Cariah had a great partnership. We’ll have to work hard, NZ are not going to give it away easily. He (Cariah) has been working hard in first-class cricket, he grabbed the opportunity wonderfully, it was a mature innings, really happy for him.” West Indies captain added