269/8 (47.3)
CR : 5.66
268/9 (50.0)
CR : 5.36
West Indies won by 2 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Shimron Hetmyer
69(64)*
Most Wickets by Spinners in Bilateral ODI Series:
50 – Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, UAE, 2018
49 – West Indies vs New Zealand, West Indies, 2026
49 – Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, 2009
48 – Sri Lanka vs England, Sri Lanka, 2014
47 – Bangladesh vs West Indies, Bangladesh, 2012
50 – Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, UAE, 2018
49 – West Indies vs New Zealand, West Indies, 2026
49 – Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, 2009
48 – Sri Lanka vs England, Sri Lanka, 2014
47 – Bangladesh vs West Indies, Bangladesh, 2012
Time for the post-match Presentation!
Player of the Match: Shimron Hetmyer
Shimron Hetmyer (Player of the Match): "[Winning the series more important than the fifty] I think that's the most satisfying part to be fair. I wasn't thinking about getting a fifty. I was just thinking to make sure the team crosses the line. Every time someone came into the middle, the message was to stay in the middle. I am just happy I was there till the end to make sure the team crossed the line.
[About the partnership with Sherfane Rutherford] We weren't overthinking anything we were doing. We were just waiting to get into our positions. We were waiting for the balls to be there to play our shots. We took our chances, some shots were calculated to be fair and the positivity was the main reason that built our partnership is why we are here.
[Message to Jayden Seales when he came to bat] When he just came out, just told him to look at the ball as long as possible. When I was at the striker position, I was trying to maximize the over as much as possible. When I realized he was trying to build, I believed in him and that worked.
[Can they promise more wins for the West Indian fans] I would like to think so (smiles). Fans here and fans back home as well. I am happy I could make the kids proud and the fans here proud as well."
[About the partnership with Sherfane Rutherford] We weren't overthinking anything we were doing. We were just waiting to get into our positions. We were waiting for the balls to be there to play our shots. We took our chances, some shots were calculated to be fair and the positivity was the main reason that built our partnership is why we are here.
[Message to Jayden Seales when he came to bat] When he just came out, just told him to look at the ball as long as possible. When I was at the striker position, I was trying to maximize the over as much as possible. When I realized he was trying to build, I believed in him and that worked.
[Can they promise more wins for the West Indian fans] I would like to think so (smiles). Fans here and fans back home as well. I am happy I could make the kids proud and the fans here proud as well."
Player of the Series: Jayden Lennox
Jayden Lennox (POTS): "[On bowling in the West Indies] It has been a lot of fun playing on pitches that are very spin conducive. It was a great learning for me. I think these bilateral series are a lot about learning to play in different conditions.
[On his learnings from the tour] I think it is just the subtleness of the craft of left arm spin bowling. Obviously, Mitch has done that for a number of years to see him operate in that fashion was great. I tried to use some of his tricks and subtle variations of the craft and try to know what it is playing on these surfaces.
[Was there any consideration for him to bowl all his 10 overs today?] I don't know. It was a toss-up actually. It is one of those things where you need to roll the dice when someone is going like Hettie was.
[His favourite spell] Nothing really sticks out. I have been a beneficiary of some really good bowling from Mitch and Michael. Pretty lucky to be able to sit there and do my craft while they operated at the other end. Obviously really pleasing to get the series win.
[On the conditions] I don't think Guyana surprised me too much. I knew we were going to find a little more bounce here. When we turned up 3-4 days ago, and looked at the surface, I almost did not believe when they said it was going to be bouncy. The conditions have been fun and both the surfaces were very different."
[On his learnings from the tour] I think it is just the subtleness of the craft of left arm spin bowling. Obviously, Mitch has done that for a number of years to see him operate in that fashion was great. I tried to use some of his tricks and subtle variations of the craft and try to know what it is playing on these surfaces.
[Was there any consideration for him to bowl all his 10 overs today?] I don't know. It was a toss-up actually. It is one of those things where you need to roll the dice when someone is going like Hettie was.
[His favourite spell] Nothing really sticks out. I have been a beneficiary of some really good bowling from Mitch and Michael. Pretty lucky to be able to sit there and do my craft while they operated at the other end. Obviously really pleasing to get the series win.
[On the conditions] I don't think Guyana surprised me too much. I knew we were going to find a little more bounce here. When we turned up 3-4 days ago, and looked at the surface, I almost did not believe when they said it was going to be bouncy. The conditions have been fun and both the surfaces were very different."
Shai Hope (West Indies Captain): "[What this win represents] Fight, something that we have shown quite a bit in this series. We were looking to win the last game but unfortunately didn't get things in our way. But that's how it goes sometimes.
[What you want to see from the side going forward] A bit more consistency, a well a lot more consistency. Something we have lacked in the last three series. From a holistic point of view, sometimes we bowl well and we find ourselves struggling with the bat and vice-versa. It is about playing a complete game more often that. Other than that, it is about having the same intent pwith bat and ball and finding ways to win crucial moments.
[What defined the two teams in this series] I would say grasping the key moments. There were very key moments in Guyana when our batters didn't capitalize. In challenging conditions yes but that is what you have to do in International cricket. You have to find a way to overcome those challenges Last game, the catch but we could have scored more runs as well to give our bowlers a cushion. But in the crucial situations of the game, we need to grasp them and be more consistent.
[How can West Indies fans get more wins] To be honest, we are trying. Something that we don't see, the guys are putting a lot of effort behind the scenes. The schedule is very tight. When we travel, the next morning we are trying to get the tweaks out in the nets. The guys are putting in the effort, it is about executing when the things are tough. That is the key for us. We have got the capability, we all have the skillset. We all can play cricket but it is about doing it more consistently when the pressure situations come and they rise. We are going to get there, backing the guys to do it. We have got a good bunch of guys, just need to be more consistent.
[Ready to switch into action for the Test match in two days' time?] You want to answer that? (Laughs). A couple of days and we need to get back into red-ball mode again."
[What you want to see from the side going forward] A bit more consistency, a well a lot more consistency. Something we have lacked in the last three series. From a holistic point of view, sometimes we bowl well and we find ourselves struggling with the bat and vice-versa. It is about playing a complete game more often that. Other than that, it is about having the same intent pwith bat and ball and finding ways to win crucial moments.
[What defined the two teams in this series] I would say grasping the key moments. There were very key moments in Guyana when our batters didn't capitalize. In challenging conditions yes but that is what you have to do in International cricket. You have to find a way to overcome those challenges Last game, the catch but we could have scored more runs as well to give our bowlers a cushion. But in the crucial situations of the game, we need to grasp them and be more consistent.
[How can West Indies fans get more wins] To be honest, we are trying. Something that we don't see, the guys are putting a lot of effort behind the scenes. The schedule is very tight. When we travel, the next morning we are trying to get the tweaks out in the nets. The guys are putting in the effort, it is about executing when the things are tough. That is the key for us. We have got the capability, we all have the skillset. We all can play cricket but it is about doing it more consistently when the pressure situations come and they rise. We are going to get there, backing the guys to do it. We have got a good bunch of guys, just need to be more consistent.
[Ready to switch into action for the Test match in two days' time?] You want to answer that? (Laughs). A couple of days and we need to get back into red-ball mode again."
Mitchell Santner (New Zealand Captain): "[On today's game] Another great game. It has been that way the whole series. Obviously it is nice to win the trophy at 3-2. Today also could have gone either way. Probably every game in the series could have. I think we set up really well with the bat. Probably we fell a touch short at the backend. However, the effort shown from the boys with the ball was outstanding.
[On the depth of New Zealand cricket] Yeah, it is in a great place. I guess, with the condensed schedules at the moment, there is a lot of rotation taking place. It is good as many guys are getting their opportunities. The guys have come in and stepped straightaway as they did in Bangladesh and India when a few boys stepped away.
[On the challenging conditions] The conditions were obviously a little bit slower than what we get back at home. You had to bring your par scores down to 210-220 in Guyana. The tosses were very important. That is not what you ideally want but yeah. It was pretty good here today. We were probably short with the bat here today. Under lights it played much better. There was some turn in the wicket in the West Indies which is nice.
[On Jayden Lennox] He has done it for a long time in New Zealand where conditions may not be that supportive. The thing with him is that he is very clear. When he came to the international stage, he stayed clear and knew what he wanted to execute. He understands what the role is. On tracks which a spin a little more, him attacking the stumps is always going to be challenging to face. Outstanding series for him. 14 wickets in 5 games is pretty good."
[On the depth of New Zealand cricket] Yeah, it is in a great place. I guess, with the condensed schedules at the moment, there is a lot of rotation taking place. It is good as many guys are getting their opportunities. The guys have come in and stepped straightaway as they did in Bangladesh and India when a few boys stepped away.
[On the challenging conditions] The conditions were obviously a little bit slower than what we get back at home. You had to bring your par scores down to 210-220 in Guyana. The tosses were very important. That is not what you ideally want but yeah. It was pretty good here today. We were probably short with the bat here today. Under lights it played much better. There was some turn in the wicket in the West Indies which is nice.
[On Jayden Lennox] He has done it for a long time in New Zealand where conditions may not be that supportive. The thing with him is that he is very clear. When he came to the international stage, he stayed clear and knew what he wanted to execute. He understands what the role is. On tracks which a spin a little more, him attacking the stumps is always going to be challenging to face. Outstanding series for him. 14 wickets in 5 games is pretty good."
Mitchell Santner receives the Winner's trophy and joins his team behind the Champions board for some smiles and snaps!
A 5-match ODI series is a rarity nowadays but seeing New Zealand and West Indies go ahead with it was a refreshing sight. The Guyana leg was filled with one-sided cricket with the Kiwis winning it 2-1. However, once the teams arrived in Barbados, the competition was a lot fiercer, and we saw two absolute thrillers. Eventually it was the visitors who took the series 3-2.
Where do both the teams go from here? The West Indies have a quick turnaround and will don their whites as they welcome Pakistan to their shores for a 2-match Test series. New Zealand have a short break from international cricket before they welcome India onto their shores for a multi-format high profile series.
It was a great joy to bring this series to you. We as fans hope for a lot more of such 5-match ODI action. On this hopeful note, I, Manan Mehta would like to take your leave on behalf of my colleagues Karthik Raj, Rajarshi Das, Ashok Dayma, AkshayaKrishna Polya and Aman. B-byeeee!
Where do both the teams go from here? The West Indies have a quick turnaround and will don their whites as they welcome Pakistan to their shores for a 2-match Test series. New Zealand have a short break from international cricket before they welcome India onto their shores for a multi-format high profile series.
It was a great joy to bring this series to you. We as fans hope for a lot more of such 5-match ODI action. On this hopeful note, I, Manan Mehta would like to take your leave on behalf of my colleagues Karthik Raj, Rajarshi Das, Ashok Dayma, AkshayaKrishna Polya and Aman. B-byeeee!