Mount Maunganui, Nov 30 (UNI) The third and final T20I between New Zealand and West Indies was abandoned due to persistent rain, here at the Bay Oval on Monday.

New Zealand won the first T20I in Auckland on November 27 by five wickets while they thrashed West Indies by 72 runs in the second game on Sunday. With wins in the first two T20Is, the Blackcaps took the series 2-0.

Ferguson was named the Player of the series for his six wickets at 7.17, including a five-wicket haul in the first match.

Mitchell Santner's first match as New Zealand's T20I captain ended in a dampener as inclement weather forced abandonment of the game.

The hosts were without Tim Southee, Ross Taylor and Kyle Jamieson, who had been given a break for the third game and were replaced by Daryl Mitchell, Scott Kuggeleijn and Hamish Bennett.

For West Indies, Hayden Walsh and Romario Shepherd came in place of Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul.

New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl first against West Indies in the dead rubber.

West Indies openers Andre Fletcher and Brandon King got off to a brisk start, taking 12 runs from the first over.

King, who was looking good and had smashed a six and a four in that over, fell on the second ball of the next over, giving Lockie Ferguson his sixth wicket of the series.

However, rain soon arrived to play spoilsport. The persistent drizzle got heavier two balls into the third over and players were forced off the field. The heavy showers continued and after a delay of nearly two hours, the match was called off about 30 minutes out from the cut off time for a five-overs-per-side game.

The players will now head to Hamilton, where they will play the first Test of the two-match series, starting December 3.

UNI AVK JAL 1614