Batting first, New Zealand scored 212 runs and West Indies gave the first 6 wickets for just 27 runs. Possibly his lowest score in an ODI until long rain breaks and exposure to batting later changed the course of the game.
When the rain stopped late in the evening at the Kensington Oval, West Indies, who had scored 63 for 7 at halftime, were chasing 212 runs in 51 overs.
He found an unusual hero in Yanik Karia, who scored his maiden half-century in an ODI, sharing an 85-run partnership with Alzarri Joseph (49) to give hope to the home side.
Joseph was dismissed for a total of 157 for 9 and Caria was the last to be dismissed for 52, scoring a total of 161 runs to make Sunday’s third ODI a series decider.
Trent Boult and Tim Southee blew up West Indies top and middle order, both taking 7 for 10 overall. Southee took 4 wickets for 22 runs and Boult took 3 wickets for 18 runs.
Earlier, Allen was four runs off the first century but his 96-run knock helped New Zealand reach 212 in 48.2 overs.
Captain Kane Williamson was ruled out after suffering a quad muscle strain after the first game of the three-match series, which West Indies won by five wickets.
Stand-in captain Tom Latham was one of three batsmen to fall early as New Zealand posted 31 for 3 in the 10th over. He was dismissed for a duck off three balls, while Martin Guptill was dismissed for 3 and Devon Conway for 6.
Finn Allen revived the innings with an 84-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Daryl Mitchell (41). The pair held 20 overs together to send New Zealand in a strong 115-4 position when Mitchell missed a midwicket slog attempt and was caught on straight leg.
New Zealand could not build from the promising position. All-rounder Michael Bracewell (6) and power hitters Phillips (9) and Neesham (1) came and went fast.
Allen was eventually dismissed for 96 on the first pitch of the 41st over when New Zealand were 165 for 7. He hit three sixes and seven fours in 117 balls.
“It was good to have the team as a competitive total,” Finn Allen said after the game. “I was disappointed that we were almost ten overs short. I felt there were a few more runs we could have put a little more on the deal.”
In his absence New Zealand’s innings again lost direction, although Mitchell Santner attempted to collect the tail. They found a capable partner in Boult who stayed with them for five overs, during which the pair put on 31 runs for the last wicket, helping New Zealand cross a total of 190, which proved insufficient in the first match.
Boult was eventually eliminated for 16, giving offspinner Sinclair the fourth wicket of the innings. Sinclair scored 4 for 41 as the spinners took six wickets.