Wellington, January 7:

Daniel Vettori took four wickets as New Zealand crushed the West Indies by seven wickets to level the one-day series 1-1 today.

Vettori finished with 4-20 in the third of the five-match series after the hosts skittled the

West Indies for 128 in 41.4 overs. New Zealand initially stuttered in the run-chase, losing the wickets of Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder and Jamie How in the space of six runs to be 40-3 after 7.2 overs.

But Ross Taylor made an unbeaten 51 off 50 balls including five fours and three sixes, supported by Daniel Flynn’s 23 not out in an 89-run partnership that propelled New Zealand to 129 in just 20.3 overs.

The pair started shakily with two difficult catching chances missed and an unsuccessful caught-behind appeal off Taylor, where replays suggested the ball may have brushed his glove on the way through to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin. But they settled into a solid partnership which stood in contrast to the rash shot-making of the first three batsmen and most of the West Indies lineup. Only batting star Shivnarine Chanderpaul showed any serious resistance with 45 in the West Indies innings.