Main points:
West Indies defeated New Zealand by 7 runs in a thrilling match to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 series. In this match played at Eden Park in Auckland, captains of both the teams, Shai Hope and Mitchell Santner scored brilliant half-centuries.
Delhi: West Indies defeated New Zealand by 7 runs in a thrilling match to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 series. In this match played at Eden Park in Auckland, captains of both the teams, Shai Hope and Mitchell Santner scored brilliant half-centuries, but Hope’s innings was decisive for West Indies.
Hope’s brilliant batting took over the innings of West Indies
Batting first, West Indies did not have a good start. Jacob Duffy dismissed Brandon King (3) in the very first over. Alec Athanaje scored 16 runs in 9 balls, but Kyle Jamieson sent him to the pavilion. After this the team had lost 3 wickets for 43 runs.
Captain Shai Hope took charge of the innings and scored 53 runs in 39 balls, which included 4 fours and 3 sixes. Roston Chase (28 runs) and Rovman Powell (33 runs) also made important contributions. West Indies scored 164 runs for 6 wickets in 20 overs. For New Zealand, Jacob Duffy took 2 wickets while Jack Fox also took 2 wickets.
Santner’s fighting innings went in vain
New Zealand made a fast start. Tim Robinson and Devon Conway scored quick runs in the powerplay, but Romerio Shepherd and Matthew Ford dismissed both of them. After this, Jayden Seales (3 wickets) and Roston Chase (3 wickets) wreaked havoc on the middle order and the New Zealand team reached 107-9 from 70-2.
Captain Mitchell Santner raised hopes by scoring unbeaten 55 runs in 28 balls, but the West Indies bowlers made a brilliant comeback in the last overs and gave the team victory by 7 runs.
This is West Indies’ first straight win in T20 in New Zealand. Before this, they had won in the Super Over in 2008, while in 2006, New Zealand won by bowl out in the tied match between the two teams.
