NAPIER (New Zealand), Jan 12: The fate of the rain-disrupted One-day International series between New Zealand and the West Indies rests on the fifth and final match here on Tuesday and neither team is lacking motivation.

Two of the first four matches had to be abandoned because of bad weather and the teams are locked at one each going into the decider, with the momentum appearing to favour the home team.

The West Indies have not won a one-day series in New Zealand since 1995 and the visitors see Tuesday as a chance to turn their fortunes around.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has an additional motivation in wanting the team to end the series on a high note before travelling to Australia at the end of the month for a five match one-day series.

“Winning makes such a difference to the side, whatever format it is the team feels good about itself, they feel comfortable and confident about their game,” Vettori told reporters.

“If we win this game then the guys will take that away to Aussie. If we don’t there probably will be some doubts lingering when we go into one of the hardest places in the world to play.”

He described the match as the “real decider” for the entire tour after the two Tests were drawn and the honours were shared in two Twenty20 matches.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle is one of the main potential spoilers for New Zealand, showing flashes of his best in an unbeaten 46 on Saturday’s fourth game before rain stopped the match.

“The last innings is the one that’s going to count,” he said of Tuesday’s looming match after declaring he was happy with his form.“It’s a great opportunity for us to win a series in New Zealand and it will be an honour to actually do that.”

But he added his team’s fielding needs to improve after three catches were put down as New Zealand debutant Martin Guptill charged to an unbeaten 122 in Saturday’s game in Auckland.

Bowler Jerome Taylor remains in doubt for the visitors with a foot injury, with Lionel Baker again likely to step in if needed.

New Zealand must choose between seamer Mark Gillespie

or off-spinner Jeetan Patel, while wayward batsman Jesse Ryder will return after being dropped for the Auckland match.

Ryder was dropped after a drunken night out last week saw him miss a team meeting and training session the following day.—AFP