WI vs NZ (1st T20I) – Highlights
In a gripping contest at Eden Park, West Indies held their nerve to seal a narrow seven-run win over New Zealand in the first T20I of the series. It was a night where Roston Chase’s calm all-round brilliance stood tall amid the chaos. His 28-run contribution with the bat, followed by a match-winning spell of 3 for 26, guided the visitors to a crucial victory on foreign soil.
After being sent in to bat, the WI innings started unevenly. Brandon King and Alick Athanaze fell early to the pace of Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson, leaving the tourists wobbling at 28 for 2. But captain Shai Hope played the anchor, crafting a composed 53 off 39 balls filled with elegant strokeplay. Hope’s innings, combined with some timely aggression from Rovman Powell, who smashed 33 off 23 balls, helped the West Indies find rhythm in the middle overs.
The partnership between Hope and Chase steadied the innings before Duffy returned to remove Chase for 28. West Indies finished at 164 for 6, a total that looked competitive but not insurmountable on Auckland’s short boundaries. Duffy and Chase’s duel set the tone for the night, clever changes of pace and disciplined lines kept the WI hitters in check. Duffy ended with an impressive 2 for 19, the pick of the New Zealand bowlers.
In response, New Zealand’s top order struggled to build momentum. Young opener Tim Robinson showed promise with a lively 27 off 21 balls, but wickets fell in clusters thereafter. Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, and Mark Chapman all got starts but couldn’t convert them into a substantial innings. When Shai Hope held onto a sharp chance behind the stumps to dismiss Michael Bracewell, the hosts were staring at a collapse at 88 for 6.
Amid the slump, Captain Mitchell Santner launched a spectacular counterattack. The left-hander blazed his way to an unbeaten 55 off just 28 balls, smashing eight boundaries and two sixes to keep NZ in the contest. Santner’s innings was a reminder of his growing influence as a finisher in T20 cricket, but he lacked support from the lower order. Chase’s clever off-spin disrupted the Kiwi resistance, picking up crucial wickets including Neesham, Chapman, and the dangerous Foulkes.
Jayden Seales’ fiery pace late in the innings wrapped up the tail, claiming three wickets for 32 runs. The West Indies held on despite Santner’s late surge, restricting NZ to 157 for 9 and clinching the contest by seven runs. The victory was a testament to their balance, strong batting depth and a disciplined bowling unit led by Chase, Seales, and Akeal Hosein, who each played their part in closing out the match.
West Indies vs New Zealand Scoreboard
West Indies – 164/6 (20)
New Zealand – 157/9 (20)
Result – West Indies won by 7 runs
Player of the Match – Roston Chase
Roston Chase
WI vs NZ Playing XIs
West Indies | Brandon King, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope (c & wk), Ackeem Auguste, Roston Chase, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Jayden Seales. |
New Zealand | Tim Robinson, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy. |
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
Step into the world of cricket with JeetBuzz News—where expert opinions, trending Blogs, and behind-the-scenes insights meet all your favorite topics. Stay informed, stay entertained, and never miss the stories shaping the cricketing world—only on JeetBuzz News!
