157/9 (20.0)
CR : 7.85
164/6 (20.0)
CR : 8.20
West Indies won by 7 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Roston Chase
3/2628(27)
3:21 PM IST, 10:51 PM local time: An expression of relief on the faces of Shai Hope and co. as the players converge for handshakes. West Indies have registered their first outright T20I win in New Zealand. This is also their 5th successive victory in this format.
Despite what transpired in the last 20 minutes or so, it is a result that was largely set up by some good bowling and catching from the visitors. On a ground which is renowned for its short straight boundaries and has seen multiple run-fests, their score of 164/6 seemed mediocre. It appeared as if their batters struggled to adjust to the extra bounce off the wicket initially and hence, their batting innings, for the major part, moved along like an old, broken-down car stuttering at every kilometre of the way.
Shai Hope did score a fifty, but it was not his fluent most innings by any means. Rovman Powell scored a 23-ball-33 towards which helped give the score a defendable look. Jacob Duffy was the most impressive among the New Zealand bowlers as he returned 2/19 off 4 overs. Interestingly, off-spinner Michael Bracewell was not given a single over.
On the flip side, it was an off-spinner who helped West Indies tighten the noose on the visitors. While Matthew Forde and Jayden Seales had given the visitors a good start in the powerplay with some impressive bowling, New Zealand were still in the contest until Roston Chase was handed the ball. He bowled two tight overs back to back which resulted in the dismissal of Chapman and thus began New Zealand's slide. Ravindra tried to go after Akeal Hosein and perished soon after.
The rising required rate brought about a few more false strokes and the hosts went from 70/2 to 107/9 before Mitchell Santner played a blinder. The Blackcaps' skipper's 8 fours and 2 imposing sixes thrilled the crowd and teased a heist, until Shepherd saved the day in the final few balls.
Despite what transpired in the last 20 minutes or so, it is a result that was largely set up by some good bowling and catching from the visitors. On a ground which is renowned for its short straight boundaries and has seen multiple run-fests, their score of 164/6 seemed mediocre. It appeared as if their batters struggled to adjust to the extra bounce off the wicket initially and hence, their batting innings, for the major part, moved along like an old, broken-down car stuttering at every kilometre of the way.
Shai Hope did score a fifty, but it was not his fluent most innings by any means. Rovman Powell scored a 23-ball-33 towards which helped give the score a defendable look. Jacob Duffy was the most impressive among the New Zealand bowlers as he returned 2/19 off 4 overs. Interestingly, off-spinner Michael Bracewell was not given a single over.
On the flip side, it was an off-spinner who helped West Indies tighten the noose on the visitors. While Matthew Forde and Jayden Seales had given the visitors a good start in the powerplay with some impressive bowling, New Zealand were still in the contest until Roston Chase was handed the ball. He bowled two tight overs back to back which resulted in the dismissal of Chapman and thus began New Zealand's slide. Ravindra tried to go after Akeal Hosein and perished soon after.
The rising required rate brought about a few more false strokes and the hosts went from 70/2 to 107/9 before Mitchell Santner played a blinder. The Blackcaps' skipper's 8 fours and 2 imposing sixes thrilled the crowd and teased a heist, until Shepherd saved the day in the final few balls.
Lowest Totals Defended in Auckland in T20Is:
164/6 by West Indies vs New Zealand, 2025*
165/7 by South Africa vs New Zealand, 2012
171/8 by Pakistan vs New Zealand, 2016
164/6 by West Indies vs New Zealand, 2025*
165/7 by South Africa vs New Zealand, 2012
171/8 by Pakistan vs New Zealand, 2016
Smallest Wins for West Indies in T20Is:
1 Run vs India, Lauderhill, 2016
3 Runs vs Bangladesh, Sharjah, 2021
4 Runs vs India, Tarouba, 2023
7 Runs vs Pakistan, Gros Islet, 2011
7 Runs vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2023
7 Runs vs New Zealand, Auckland, 2025* (TONIGHT)
1 Run vs India, Lauderhill, 2016
3 Runs vs Bangladesh, Sharjah, 2021
4 Runs vs India, Tarouba, 2023
7 Runs vs Pakistan, Gros Islet, 2011
7 Runs vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2023
7 Runs vs New Zealand, Auckland, 2025* (TONIGHT)
Highest 10th-wicket partnerships in T20Is (Full-Member Teams):
50* – Mitchell Santner & Jacob Duffy (New Zealand) vs West Indies, Auckland, 2025, Tonight*
44* – Josh Little & Barry McCarthy (Ireland) vs South Africa, Dublin (Malahide), 2021
42 – Josh Little & Barry McCarthy (Ireland) vs South Africa, Bristol, 2022
40* – Haris Rauf & Sufiyan Muqeem (Pakistan) vs Afghanistan, Sharjah, 2025
38* – Obed McCoy & Hayden Walsh (West Indies) vs New Zealand, Kingston, 2022
50* – Mitchell Santner & Jacob Duffy (New Zealand) vs West Indies, Auckland, 2025, Tonight*
44* – Josh Little & Barry McCarthy (Ireland) vs South Africa, Dublin (Malahide), 2021
42 – Josh Little & Barry McCarthy (Ireland) vs South Africa, Bristol, 2022
40* – Haris Rauf & Sufiyan Muqeem (Pakistan) vs Afghanistan, Sharjah, 2025
38* – Obed McCoy & Hayden Walsh (West Indies) vs New Zealand, Kingston, 2022
Player of the Match: Roston Chase
Roston Chase (Player of the Match): Yeah, thank you very much. It came out of the hand very well and I was getting a bit spin. Happy to contribute.
We learnt from what New Zealand bowlers did. We tried to take pace off and hit into the wicket and it worked for us.
It gives us a lot of confidence to start the series with a win. That's what we talked about. It was Jason Holder's birthday and we wanted to give him a birthday gift."
We learnt from what New Zealand bowlers did. We tried to take pace off and hit into the wicket and it worked for us.
It gives us a lot of confidence to start the series with a win. That's what we talked about. It was Jason Holder's birthday and we wanted to give him a birthday gift."
Mitchell Santner (New Zealand Captain): "Yeah I think the West Indies bowled in the middle, they put us under pressure. We would have taken 160 but they put us under pressure.
You come against a good side. They bowled what was needed on that wicket. Change of pace was important. But the seamers did very well. To restrict them to 160 was very good. We started well with the bat in the powerplay. But in the middle overs, we lost wickets and lost the plot.
We will be up against a similar attack tomorrow and on a similar wicket. We will see what we have to improve on and see how it goes."
You come against a good side. They bowled what was needed on that wicket. Change of pace was important. But the seamers did very well. To restrict them to 160 was very good. We started well with the bat in the powerplay. But in the middle overs, we lost wickets and lost the plot.
We will be up against a similar attack tomorrow and on a similar wicket. We will see what we have to improve on and see how it goes."
Shai Hope (West Indies captain): "Communication is the key in those crucial moments. Lets not get too far ahead of ourselves. Mitch played a great innings there. As long as the guys are clear willing to execute, it is great. We were a few runs short. I thought we could have been a bit more clinical in the powerplay. It is about assessing the conditions tomorrow and starting afresh."
This is West Indies’ first outright T20I win in New Zealand — their earlier two results at the venue were a Bowl Out loss in 2006 and a Super Over win in 2008.
West Indies first played a T20I in New Zealand in 2006. However, it was not until today that they registered their first outright win there. Remember, this team lost successive games and a series to Nepal just a few weeks back. However, they have strung 5 wins on a trot. With less than 100 days to go for the T20 World Cup, these are steps in the right direction.
Will they be able to sustain it? We will find out tomorrow, when these teams lock horns again for the 2nd match of the series at the same venue. Do join us at 10:45 AM IST, 6:15 PM local time. For now, this is the quarter of Darpan Tikiya, Akshay Bhide, Sachin Yadav and Aman signing off.
Will they be able to sustain it? We will find out tomorrow, when these teams lock horns again for the 2nd match of the series at the same venue. Do join us at 10:45 AM IST, 6:15 PM local time. For now, this is the quarter of Darpan Tikiya, Akshay Bhide, Sachin Yadav and Aman signing off.