The West Indies produced a powerful masterclass, but still failed horribly, losing to New Zealand by three runs in a high-scoring thriller at Eden Park on Thursday. The result leveled the five-match T20I series 1-1.New Zealand’s victory hinged on Mark Chapman’s explosive 78 off just 28 balls, which propelled the hosts to 207 for 5 after a slow start.
Coming in with a score of 81/2 in the 12th over, Chapman tore through the West Indian bowlers, smashing seven sixes and six fours. His surge – 66 runs from his next 19 balls – turned the innings around, as New Zealand piled up 126 runs in the final eight overs.Daryl Mitchell (28 off 14) and skipper Mitchell Santner (18 off 8) provided valuable support, while for the West Indies, Tiaan van Vuuren (4/52) and Tshepo Moreki (2/52) were among the wickets.In response, West Indies unleashed a boundary barrage of their own, hitting 18 sixes – the most by a full member nation in a T20I run, matching England’s feat against them in 2023. Despite a spirited effort from Rovman Powell (45 off 16), Romario Shepherd (34 off 16) and Matthew Forde (29 off 13), the visitors were restricted to 204 for 8. Forde could only manage a single off the last ball when a boundary was needed to equalize.The New Zealand spinners were decisive. Ish Sodhi (3/39) and Mitchell Santner (3/31) shared six wickets – only the second time the Kiwi spinners have taken so many in a home T20I.The three-run margin was New Zealand’s second narrowest T20I victory (after one-run victories against India and Pakistan) and also equaled West Indies’ second-narrowest defeat.Despite the defeat, West Indies scored several records, including the highest ever score (87/2) in the 16–20 overs of a T20I chase and their third total of 200-overs without an individual score of 50-plus.The two teams will meet again on Sunday for the third T20I in Nelson, with the series delicately balanced at 1-1.
