In a pulsating finish at Kensington Oval, New Zealand edged past West Indies by a solitary wicket in the fourth one-day international on Sunday, securing an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series. The victory was set up by a fighting 80 from Mark Chapman and a cool-headed 34 not out from captain Mitchell Santner, who held his nerve when it mattered most.

Chasing a modest 188 for victory, the Kiwis made heavy weather of what should have been a routine chase. After losing early wickets, Chapman anchored the innings with grit and composure. But when he fell, the lower order crumbled under pressure, leaving New Zealand wobbling at 180-9 with just eight runs to get.

Then came the drama. Santner, dropped with three runs needed and only one wicket remaining, kept his cool as last man Jayden Lennox survived two nerve-shredding reviews, one for caught behind and another for lbw. The tension was unbearable, but the Kiwis somehow scraped through with 35 balls to spare. Santner finally smashed the winning runs off the first ball of the 45th over, finishing unbeaten on 34 and crushing West Indies' hopes of a series-levelling triumph.

"It was pretty chaotic, especially the ending," Santner admitted afterwards. "You try to chip off the total as much as you can. Even partnerships of 10 or 15 at that stage were going a long way. It probably shouldn't have got that close, but we're relieved to get over the line."

The match carried deep emotional weight, as it was played in the shadow of Garry Sobers' passing. The legendary West Indian all-rounder, widely regarded as the greatest cricketer the Caribbean has ever produced, died on Friday at the age of 89. Both teams wore black armbands, flags flew at half-mast, and two seats were left vacant in the pavilion named after him. A minute's silence was observed before the first ball, as players and fans paid tribute to a man who amassed over 8,000 Test runs and claimed 200 wickets in a glittering career.

West Indies had desperately wanted to honour Sobers in his hometown of Bridgetown. Still, their hopes suffered an early blow when New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl, a decision that proved wise, as the side bowling first had won all four matches in the series so far.

Batting conditions were tricky, and the hosts soon found themselves in trouble at 58-3 and later 81-6. Just when a total collapse seemed imminent, Amir Jangoo and Gudakesh Motie revived the innings with a defiant 81-run stand for the seventh wicket. Jangoo crafted a patient 51 off 71 balls, while Motie contributed a valuable 41 to push West Indies to a defendable total.

Young pacer Matthew Fisher was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, claiming 3-40 in eight sharp overs. His biggest scalp was West Indies captain Shai Hope, who fell to a peach of a delivery, a cross-seamer that jagged back sharply from outside off to castle the skipper for just 2.

New Zealand's chase began disastrously, with two wickets tumbling for only six runs. Chapman and Michael Bracewell (32) then steadied the ship with a 65-run partnership. But after a short rain break, Bracewell fell to the first ball from Motie, triggering a collapse that brought the game back to life. Nathan Smith (8), Jacob Duffy (1), and Fisher (1) all departed cheaply, leaving the tail exposed.

Motie was sensational with the ball, finishing with figures of 5-47 from his 10 overs, while Alzarri Joseph applied relentless pressure at the other end, conceding just 23 runs in his full quota. But in the end, Santner's ice-cool temperament and a slice of luck proved decisive.

West Indies captain Shai Hope was gracious in defeat, praising his team's fighting spirit. "It hasn't really sunk in yet, but it's been a really good cricket game for the onlookers," Hope said. "If you watch a game like this as a neutral, you're going to be really happy. It could have gone to either side. I must commend our guys for the fight they showed at the back end."

The final match of the series will also be played at Bridgetown. Still, the trophy is already heading New Zealand's way thanks to a victory that will be remembered for its sheer drama, resilience, and the emotional backdrop of honouring a cricketing legend.