New Zealand players celebrate after the dismissal of a West Indies batsman during the third T20 international cricket match at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Wednesday, January 3, 2018. Photo: AFP

Colin Munro celebrates his century during game three of the Twenty20 series between New Zealand and the West Indies. Photo:Getty Images

In reply, West Indies could manage only 124 and lost by 119 runs.

Earlier, Munro combined with Martin Guptill (63 off 38 balls) and skipper Kane Williamson (19 off 8) as Carlos Brathwaite picked up two wickets for 50 runs from his four overs.

The Kiwis clinched the three-match series 2-0. The second match was washed out.

Courtesy New Zealand’s 2-0 series win, they leapfrogged Pakistan to become the top-ranked T20 international team in the world.

Masterful Munro

According to the New Zealand Herald, the 30-year-old left-hander Munro had the fifth highest aggregate of 366 runs for the Trinbago Riders in the CPL at a 135 strike rate. He thanked the West Indies for their August-September hospitality by hammering them to Auckland Airport.

Munro made 104 from 53 balls and received a standing ovation. The crowd appreciated his effort almost as much as the miraculous clear skies after rain was forecast.

His effort contributed to 243 for five, a record New Zealand T20 total, overtaking the 214 for six set against Australia in February 2010 at Christchurch.

The West Indies were dismissed for 124 in 16.3 overs with Tim Southee returning three for 21 from 2.3 overs. Shai Hope did not bat due to injury.

Munro eventually holed out to Shimron Hetmyer at long-on off Carlos Brathwaite from the first ball of the final over, but his impact was assured.

He became the first player to score three T20 international centuries, overtaking the braces scored by Brendon McCullum, the West Indies' Evin Lewis and Chris Gayle, and India's Rohit Sharma.