NZ vs WI (1st ODI) – Highlights
New Zealand and West Indies served up a tense opening to the ODI series in Christchurch, a contest that swung like a pendulum until the final overs, before the hosts held their nerve to clinch a 7-run victory. Under lights and on a surface offering grip and bounce, both sides produced moments of brilliance, but Daryl Mitchell’s masterclass ultimately separated the two teams.
NZ’s innings began in stuttering fashion after being asked to bat. Rachin Ravindra and Will Young fell early as Matthew Forde and Jayden Seales extracted movement. At 24 for 2, New Zealand looked in a rebuild phase before Devon Conway stitched a useful 49, steadying the innings until he was dismissed against the flow of play. The real show began after his exit. Daryl Mitchell took charge with trademark authority, manoeuvring spinners with control and punishing pace whenever the bowlers strayed. His 119 off 118 wasn’t a flashy innings, but a perfectly paced ODI hundred built on patience, timing, and clarity of role.
With Tom Latham and Michael Bracewell offering support in the middle overs, NZ navigated through tricky phases where WI bowlers threatened to pull dominance back. Mitchell Santner chipped in briefly, but Zak Foulkes’ lively 22 off 16 at the death gave New Zealand the push they needed, taking them to 269 for 7. Not an intimidating score by modern ODI standards, but a total with enough substance on a challenging wicket.
The WI chase was never quite smooth. Kyle Jamieson’s opening burst rattled the visitors early, removing John Campbell and later Keacy Carty in key moments. Alick Athanaze attempted to grind through the innings, but the lack of strike rotation hurt the tempo. Captain Shai Hope lifted the rate with 37 off 45, but after he chipped one to Ravindra, the visitors were pushed into a corner.
Sherfane Rutherford attempted to rewrite the script with a counterattacking 55 off 61, clearing the ropes and forcing New Zealand into tactical reconsiderations. But Jamieson returned yet again, removing the dangerous left-hander just when momentum was swinging. West Indies refused to go quietly, though. Justin Greaves and Romario Shepherd powered a late assault, injecting fear into the hosts with clean ball striking and fearless cricket. With 61 needed off the final five overs and wickets in hand, the tension was electric.
What settled the game for New Zealand was their death bowling discipline. Matt Henry and Zak Foulkes delivered yorkers and slower balls under pressure, preventing boundaries when the match was slipping away. Shepherd and Greaves pushed the match deep, but the visitors ran out of deliveries before they could pull off a heist, finishing on 262 for 6.
New Zealand walked away with the early lead in the series, but West Indies showed enough intent and middle-order firepower to suggest this contest is far from one-sided. If anything, the opening ODI has raised the anticipation for the battles to come.
New Zealand vs West Indies Scoreboard
New Zealand – 269/7 (50)
West Indies – 262/6 (50)
Result – New Zealand won by 7 runs
Player of the Match – Daryl Mitchell
Daryl Mitchell
NZ vs WI Playing XIs
New Zealand | Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy |
West Indies | John Campbell, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Shamar Springer, Jayden Seales |
Disclaimer: The following match highlights are based on the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider these perspectives and form their own conclusions.
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