Sherfane Rutherford’s explosive half-century, together with stellar bowling performances from Gudakesh Motie and Alzarri Joseph, led the West Indies to a pivotal 13-run win over New Zealand on the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium, Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday night time.
This victory secured the Caribbean group’s spot within the Tremendous 8 stage of the ICC Males’s Twenty20 World Cup.
Successful the toss and electing to area, New Zealand managed to limit the West Indies to 149-9 of their 20 overs after the hosts discovered themselves struggling at 76-7. The spine of the West Indies’ restoration was Rutherford, who blazed his approach to an unbeaten 68 off 39 balls, together with six sixes and two fours. His composed but aggressive innings lifted the group’s complete from a precarious place to a defendable rating.
Dire straits
New Zealand’s tempo assault, led by Trent Boult (3-16), Tim Southee (2-21), and Lockie Ferguson (2-27), initially dominated the West Indies’ high order. The Caribbean facet was in dire straits till Rutherford’s onslaught within the closing overs gave them a combating probability.
In reply, New Zealand might solely muster 136-9. Glenn Phillips, aware of the Caribbean circumstances from his time within the CPL, top-scored with 40 runs. Motie was sensational with the ball, taking 3-25 from his 4 overs, whereas Joseph’s fiery tempo earned him 4-19, dismantling the New Zealand batting line-up.
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The Kiwi chase began promisingly with Finn Allen (26) hitting three fours and a six to assist New Zealand attain 32-1 after the powerplay. Nonetheless, well timed strikes from Hosein and Joseph despatched Allen and Devon Conway (5) again to the pavilion.
Little resistance
Motie’s introduction after the powerplay proved pivotal as he rapidly eliminated captain Kane Williamson (1), Rachin Ravindra (10), and Darryl Mitchell (12). After Phillips’ dismissal by Joseph, New Zealand’s decrease order provided little resistance, although Mitchell Santner (21*) hit just a few late sixes.
Earlier, the West Indies innings noticed a fast collapse with key gamers like Johnson Charles (0), Nicholas Pooran (17), Roston Chase (0), and captain Rovman Powell (1) falling cheaply to the Kiwi tempo assault. Boult, Southee, and Ferguson exploited the circumstances expertly, leaving the West Indies reeling.
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Center-order contributions from Akeal Hosein (15) and Romario Shepherd (13) supplied some stability, but it surely was Rutherford’s explosive batting within the final three overs that dramatically boosted the entire. He dispatched the Kiwi bowlers with authority, notably within the nineteenth and twentieth overs, which went for 19 and 18 runs, respectively.
The West Indies now flip their consideration to their subsequent essential match towards Afghanistan, which may very well be their hardest problem but.
