Match Center

That's it from this enthralling and consuming game. New Zealand held their nerves to go over the line and take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series. A lot of things to work on for both the teams before the 2nd T20I which begins on Sunday, 29th November, 2020, from 2 pm local (0100 GMT). Till then, cheers and take care!

Victorious New Zealand skipper, Tim Southee says it was a strange game and they did well to win it. Adds that Lockie Ferguson bowled well and it was a very special spell of bowling from him. Mentions that they cannot control the rain and had to play accordingly. Southee says Neesham played very well and did well to stay till the end. Ends by saying it was a nice victory for them.

Kieron Pollard, West Indies skipper, says that it was a fantastic game of cricket. Adds that the bowlers had less help on this track. Mentions that they have to improve on the no ball part as they cannot be bowling high full tosses and five-six no balls. Mentions that they need to come out of this situation and improve on their bowling. Pollard also says that the batsmen should apply themselves a little bit and not lose wickets in heaps.

Lockie Ferguson is named the Player of the Match. He starts by saying that it is a crazy ground as the ball flies all around the park here but says that for him it went into his hands. He also mentions that he is happy with the performance of the team while chasing. Ends by saying that it is working for him nicely as he has put a lot of efforts off the field.

Earlier after Tim Southee won the toss and put West Indies to bat, Brandon King and Andre Fletcher went bang bang from ball one. Only to be stopped twice by rain and when the play resumed then came the Ferguson storm. He picked a couple of wickets in his first spell and then came back to scalp another three to make it 5 wickets for him. His first in T20Is and the second New Zealander after Tim Southee to do so. For West Indies, some brutal hitting from Pollard who made 75 off 37 balls, gave his side some hope and his bowlers something to bowl at in a rain-curtailed fixture. However, in the end, poor bowling from West Indies in the second innings saw them end up on the losing side. Stay tuned as we bring you the post-match presentation where we get to hear from the skippers as well as we get to know who the Man of the match is.

Bowling from the West Indies was good in bits and pieces.  Fabien Allen, Kesrick Williams and Keemo Paul all were sent on a leather hunt. Only Sheldon Cottrell could finish his quota of 4 overs. Oshane Thomas picked up a couple of wickets as Pollard and Cottrell had a wicket each to their name. Rest none of them even looked to bowl a testing line and length. They sprayed all around the park and that meant that they were beaten brutally. Keemo Paul bowled 5 no balls in his three overs. The short boundaries seemed to have spoiled their plan as they were smashed over the park whenever they bowled short or full. They failed to bowl the hard length consistently.

Chasing a total of 180 in 16 overs needed some effort from the Black Caps and in the end, they overcame their 5-match losing rut in T20Is with a powerful win. New Zealand needed a powerful start to begin their chase but they failed to get one as they lost 4 wickets inside 7 overs. They were 63/4 at one stage when Neesham and Conway joined forces. The duo went after the West Indian bowling creating pressure on the bowlers. They stitched a 77-run stand which almost sealed the deal before Conway fell just 9 runs short of what could have been a good fifty on debut. Though, Neesham stayed till the end and along with Mitchell Santner ensured that New Zealand cross the line.

What a scintillating game of cricket we have witnessed. After Tim Southee elected to chase, he might have thought it is a bad one, looking at West Indies' total but the dew came and made a mockery of the West Indian bowling. New Zealand go 1-0 up in the 3-match series.

SIX! Santner finishes it off in style! Short delivery on middle, Santner pulls it over mid-wicket for a maximum. NEW ZEALAND WIN BY 5 WICKETS!

Length delivery on off, Neesham dabs it towards short third man for a single. Just 3 needed for New Zealand from 5 balls!

Short ball on middle, Santner pulls it through square leg for a couple. Just 4 needed for New Zealand!

Length delivery on off, Neesham punches it through point for a run. New Zealand need 6 runs from 7 balls.

Full ball on middle, Santner drives it through mid on for a single.

SIX! That is smashed! Full on middle, Santner lofts it over long on for a maximum. New Zealand need 8 runs from 9 balls.

Back of a length on off, Santner keeps it out.

Length delivery on middle, Neesham pushes it through mid on for a single.

Full on middle, Santner flicks it through mid-wicket. The batsmen get two runs. A horrendous over. 4 no balls!

NO BALL! Keemo Paul is making a mockery of his bowling! Short ball on middle, Santner pulls it over mid-wicket for a couple. FREE HIT TO FOLLOW!