Mitchell Santner was delighted New Zealand were able to "close a win out" after ending their losing streak with a three-run victory over West Indies.

It went down to the very last ball, but West Indies' late charge ultimately fell short as the Black Caps clinched a first win in five.

New Zealand only managed 157 runs in the series opener, but Mark Chapman impressed as he led them to 207 on Thursday, smashing 78 off 28 balls.

He reached his half-century in 19 balls – the fastest of his T20I career – before his 17th over dismissal, but Santner got New Zealand to 207-5 with big hitting at the death.

West Indies looked down and out after being skittled down to 93-6 in the 13th over, but Rovman Powell started the comeback with the help of Matthew Forde.

Having at one point needed 18 runs an over, the pair got West Indies within touching distance of a win, needing just eight off four balls. However, Powell was dismissed with two to go, and the fight faltered out to 204-8.

"Another close game, probably a little bit too close, but I think the West Indies showed they're never out of the game, especially with the power they've got. It was nice to close one out," Santner said.

"After a few losses in a row, this win means a lot. When you look over the two games, different guys stepped up at different times.

Series levelled in a final over thriller!

Catch-up on all scores | https://t.co/wmHBEcxPM1 #NZvWIN | = @PhotosportNZ pic.twitter.com/v7EpEi2Z3z

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 6, 2025

"Chapman today was outstanding. You only learn by putting yourself in those pressure situations. Eden Park against Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd is probably as hard as it gets.

"[Zakary] Foulkes, [Jacob] Duffy, and [Kyle] Jamieson closed it out brilliantly. It doesn't get any harder than that."

West Indies hit 18 sixes, the joint-most by a full-member side in a T20I run chase.

They had won their last five matches in the shortest format, but left themselves with too much to do, and Shai Hopes believes the game changed with Chapman's knock.

"That was too close, you know," he said. "It was unfortunate that we didn't cross the line this time.

"Credit must be given to Chapman for the way he played that innings; he kind of took the game away from us. We didn't really finish as well as we wanted to with the ball or the bat.

"But there was a great fight shown by Powell, [Romario] Shepherd and Forde to give us a good chance to win that game."

The five-match series is now level at 1-1 after the first two games, with the next T20I taking place on Sunday at Saxton Oval.