Follow UsNew Zealand bowlers breathe fire
The Blackcaps couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game. Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson shared the first four wickets between them and reduced the West Indies to 23/4 by the end of six overs.
James Neesham and Mitchell Santner then picked up a wicket each before Boult returned to get rid of dangerous Andre Russell, reducing the West Indies to 77/7 in 13 overs
Rutherford delivers a masterclass
Sherfane Rutherford paced his innings brilliantly. The left-hander didn’t take any unnecessary risks against Boult, Southee, Ferguson and Neesham and waited for the last two overs.
Daryl Mitchell and Santner bowled those two over and Rutherford, who was on 31 off 27 at that stage, smashed 37 runs off the last 12 deliveries. Thanks to Rutherford (68* off 39), the West Indies posted an above-par score of 149 on a two-paced Tarouba surface.
New Zealand’s fifth bowling options take a beating
Boult, Southee, Ferguson and Neesham bowled 16 overs between them and picked up eight wickets at an economy of close to 5.7.
Kane Willamson used Santner, Mitchell and Glenn Phillips to complete the quota of the fifth bowler and the three ended up leaking 55 runs in four overs combined.
Left-arm spinners dismantle NZ’s top-order
It was always going to be tough for New Zealand to chase down 150 on that surface and Gudakesh Motie (3/25) and Akeal Hosein (1/21) made things even more difficult.
The two left-arm spinners dismissed four of New Zealand’s top-five batters and left them reeling at 63/5 in 11 overs
Joseph finishes the job
Alzarri Joseph then finished the job, taking 4/19 in his four overs. The right-arm quick dismissed Finn Allen, Phillips, Neesham and Southee to close the game for the West Indies.
As a result, the Men in Maroon are through to the Super 8s, while New Zealand are all but knocked out.
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