WEST INDIES VS NEW ZEALAND 26TH MATCH, T20 WORLD CUP, 2024

New Zealand is teetering on the edge of elimination in the group stage of the men’s T20 World Cup, having fallen just 13 runs short of the West Indies’ target at Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. The co-hosts, who started poorly in Tarouba, were saved by Sherfane Rutherford. His unbeaten 68 runs helped the team reach a total of 149-9, which proved to be enough for a win on Wednesday. West Indies restricted New Zealand to 136-9, with Alzarri Joseph taking four wickets and Gudakesh Motie three, ensuring their third consecutive victory and a spot in the Super Eights.

Toss-

-New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first.
-“There are a few unknowns on the surface, so we prefer to bowl first,” said captain Kane Williamson.
-Southee, Ravindra, and Neesham all found a place in New Zealand’s team.
– “We still have boxes to tick in all three departments,” said Rovman Powell. West Indies remained unchanged.

New Zealand Playing XI

* Finn Allen
* Devon Conway (WK)
* Kane Williamson (C)
* Daryl Mitchell
* Glenn Phillips
* James Neesham
* Mitchell Santner
* Rachin Ravindra
* Tim Southee
* Lockie Ferguson
* Trent Boult

West Indies Playing XI

* Brandon King
* Johnson Charles
* Nicholas Pooran (WK)
* Roston Chase
* Rovman Powell (C)
* Sherfane Rutherford
* Andre Russell
* Romario Shepherd
* Akeal Hosein
* Alzarri Joseph
* Gudakesh Motie

Turning Point-

The decisive moment came in the final overs for the West Indies. Their innings seemed to stagnate as New Zealand rebounded impressively after their heavy defeat to Afghanistan. However, Rutherford turned up the heat in those critical moments, hammering an unbeaten 68 runs in a flurry of sixes, which made all the difference. Except for Glenn Phillips, no other batter on either team managed to score even half of Rutherford’s tally.

WEST INDIES-

Powerplay: A Disaster  Start For West Indies

Phase Score: 23/4 (RR: 5.75, 4s/6s: 3/0)

Trent Boult struck in the first over, getting Johnson Charles out with a thick edge that hit the stumps. Nicholas Pooran tried to take advantage of the fielding restrictions but was caught by Tim Southee’s short ball. Between these dismissals, Roston Chase misplayed a ball from Lockie Ferguson, giving New Zealand a strong start.

Middle Overs: NZ Remain in Control

Phase Score**: 68/3 (RR: 7.55, 4s/6s: 2/5)

James Neesham struck for New Zealand, further reducing West Indies to 30/5. Akeal Hosein tried to break the shackles with a six, yet West Indies could only muster 49 runs by the halfway mark. Andre Russell’s brief cameo didn’t help much as Boult returned to dismiss him. Rutherford, dealing mostly in sixes, still needed to do something special in the final five overs to post a respectable total.

Death Overs: Rutherford Show

Phase Score: 58/2 (RR: 11.6, 4s/6s: 3/5)

Thanks to Rutherford, West Indies managed to set a challenging target of 150. He dominated the strike in the final overs, hitting plenty of boundaries. With Boult, Southee, and Ferguson already bowled out, Kane Williamson turned to Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner, and Rutherford took full advantage, adding 37 runs in those overs.

NEW ZEALAND

Powerplay: A Stuttering Start

Phase Score: 36/2 (RR: 6, 4s/6s: 3/1)

New Zealand’s start was better than West Indies’, but they wanted more given Rutherford’s late assault. Finn Allen began well with a four and a six, but Devon Conway’s attempt to sweep on an uneven surface cost him his wicket. Alzarri Joseph then dismissed Allen with a short ball in the final over of the powerplay.

Middle Overs: Hopes on Phillips as NZ Caves In

Phase Score: 49/3 (RR: 5.44, 4s/6s: 1/2)

Gudakesh Motie entered after the powerplay and struck thrice, leaving New Zealand in shambles. Kane Williamson was out with an edge, Rachin Ravindra fell to a deep midwicket catch, and in three overs, Motie knocked over three wickets. At 63/5, New Zealand’s campaign was sinking fast.

Death Overs: Not Enough in the Tank

Phase Score: 51/4 (RR: 10.2, 4s/6s: 3/5)

New Zealand needed someone like Rutherford; they relied on Glenn Phillips, but Neesham’s dismissal in the 16th over was a blow. Though Phillips hit a few boundaries, New Zealand stayed behind in the chase. Joseph ensured the final nail by taking two wickets in two balls, including Phillips’. Needing 33 off the final over, Santner provided a brief scare with two sixes but Romario Shepherd managed to secure the win.

Brief Scores

West Indies: 149/9 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 68\*; Trent Boult 3/16, Tim Southee 2/21)
New Zealand: 136/9 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 40; Alzarri Joseph 4/19)

What’s Next?

New Zealand will return to the same venue to face Uganda. They will look to overcome Uganda and PNG in their final group game. However, a win for Afghanistan against PNG tomorrow will knock New Zealand out. West Indies will face Afghanistan in their final group game.