<p>Paceman Lockie Ferguson unleashed a devastating five-wicket barrage as New Zealand downed the West Indies in a roller coaster Twenty20 series opener in Auckland on Friday.</p>.<p>The match -- the first international cricket played in New Zealand for almost nine months -- produced a nail-biting finale as the Black Caps reached 179-5 in the final over after being set a target of 176.</p>.<p>Persistent showers meant the innings were reduced to 16 and many players, particularly the tourists, were rusty after only emerging from Covid-19 quarantine on Thursday. But there were outstanding individual performances on both sides, particularly man of the match Ferguson and West Indies captain Kieron Pollard's unbeaten 75 from 37 balls.</p>.<p>Ferguson claimed a career-best haul of 5-21 to put the brakes on a flying start from the West Indies, saying the short boundaries at Eden Park helped his cause.</p>.<p>"It's one of the craziest grounds you could ever play at, the ball flies everywhere and fortunately for me today it went to hand, which is nice," he said.</p>.<p>Pollard almost swung momentum back to the West Indies single-handedly, clubbing eight sixes and four fours to ensure his team set a competitive target. "It was fantastic cricket, in terms of the ball flaying all over the boundaries," he said.</p>.<p>"It was a topsy-turvy sort of game, a bit of indiscipline showed with us on the bowling side."</p>.<p>Before play commenced, both sides took a knee in a gesture against racism, with the West Indies players each raising a black-gloved fist.</p>.<p>West Indies opener Andre Fletcher smashed back-to-back sixes off debutant Kyle Jamieson, who conceded 18 from his first over in international T20.</p>.<p>The tourists were even more brutal against Hamish Bennett, plundering 29 runs from a nightmare over for the fast bowler. They were 58 without loss before Ferguson broke through and clean-bowled Fletcher on 34.</p>.<p>The West Indies then lost five wickets for a single run over the course of 11 balls, with Ferguson claiming three scalps during the spell and captain Tim Southee two.</p>.<p>Pollard's contribution looked like it would prove decisive when New Zealand made a shaky start and veteran opener Martin Guptill departed for five.</p>.<p>They were soon 63 for four when Ross Taylor was run out.</p>.<p>The Black Caps' South African-born debutant Devon Conway and Jimmy Neesham were looking dangerous when Pollard broke their 77-run partnership when Conway was caught on 41. But Neesham, who scored 48 from 24 balls, steered the New Zealanders home with Mitchell Santner, who hit a six to claim victory with four balls to spare.</p>.<p>"It was a very strange game but nice to come out the right side," said Southee, who is standing in as regular skipper Kane Williamson focuses on Test cricket. "It's been a long time coming, we're fortunate to be back out here playing in front of the crowds and hope the fans enjoyed it."</p>.<p>The next fixture in the three-match series is in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.</p>
<p>Paceman Lockie Ferguson unleashed a devastating five-wicket barrage as New Zealand downed the West Indies in a roller coaster Twenty20 series opener in Auckland on Friday.</p>.<p>The match -- the first international cricket played in New Zealand for almost nine months -- produced a nail-biting finale as the Black Caps reached 179-5 in the final over after being set a target of 176.</p>.<p>Persistent showers meant the innings were reduced to 16 and many players, particularly the tourists, were rusty after only emerging from Covid-19 quarantine on Thursday. But there were outstanding individual performances on both sides, particularly man of the match Ferguson and West Indies captain Kieron Pollard's unbeaten 75 from 37 balls.</p>.<p>Ferguson claimed a career-best haul of 5-21 to put the brakes on a flying start from the West Indies, saying the short boundaries at Eden Park helped his cause.</p>.<p>"It's one of the craziest grounds you could ever play at, the ball flies everywhere and fortunately for me today it went to hand, which is nice," he said.</p>.<p>Pollard almost swung momentum back to the West Indies single-handedly, clubbing eight sixes and four fours to ensure his team set a competitive target. "It was fantastic cricket, in terms of the ball flaying all over the boundaries," he said.</p>.<p>"It was a topsy-turvy sort of game, a bit of indiscipline showed with us on the bowling side."</p>.<p>Before play commenced, both sides took a knee in a gesture against racism, with the West Indies players each raising a black-gloved fist.</p>.<p>West Indies opener Andre Fletcher smashed back-to-back sixes off debutant Kyle Jamieson, who conceded 18 from his first over in international T20.</p>.<p>The tourists were even more brutal against Hamish Bennett, plundering 29 runs from a nightmare over for the fast bowler. They were 58 without loss before Ferguson broke through and clean-bowled Fletcher on 34.</p>.<p>The West Indies then lost five wickets for a single run over the course of 11 balls, with Ferguson claiming three scalps during the spell and captain Tim Southee two.</p>.<p>Pollard's contribution looked like it would prove decisive when New Zealand made a shaky start and veteran opener Martin Guptill departed for five.</p>.<p>They were soon 63 for four when Ross Taylor was run out.</p>.<p>The Black Caps' South African-born debutant Devon Conway and Jimmy Neesham were looking dangerous when Pollard broke their 77-run partnership when Conway was caught on 41. But Neesham, who scored 48 from 24 balls, steered the New Zealanders home with Mitchell Santner, who hit a six to claim victory with four balls to spare.</p>.<p>"It was a very strange game but nice to come out the right side," said Southee, who is standing in as regular skipper Kane Williamson focuses on Test cricket. "It's been a long time coming, we're fortunate to be back out here playing in front of the crowds and hope the fans enjoyed it."</p>.<p>The next fixture in the three-match series is in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.</p>