Pallekele - New Zealand's pace-cum-spin attack came together effectively to bowl out the West Indies for 139 in 19.3 overs in their Super Eights group one match at Pallekele stadium on Monday.
Paceman Tim Southee grabbed 3-21 while pace partner Doug Bracell took 3-31 to halt a power-packed West Indian batting after Darren Sammy won the toss and opted to bat.
Chris Gayle top-scored with a fluent 30 while Kieron Pollard (28) and Marlon Samuels (24) also chipped in with useful contributions but none of the batsmen could capitalise on the good starts.
West Indies, who have won one and lost the other match in the group, face a must-win situation to qualify for the semi-finals. New Zealand, who lost both their matches in the round of eight, also need a big win to reach the semis.
The two teams for the semi-finals will only be decided after the Sri Lanka-England match later in the day.
Bracewell provided New Zealand with a double breakthrough by dismissing Johnson Charles (eight) and Andre Russell (six) in his first two overs, leaving the West Indies in a difficult situation.
Southee, who came as first-change, removed Gayle in the seventh over to continue to derail the West Indies. Gayle hit three boundaries and two sixes off just 14 deliveries.
Off-spinner Nathan McCullum finished with 2-19, dismissing Samuels and Darren Bravo (16) as the West Indies lost three wickets in the space of just 15 runs.