West Indies and New Zealand played out an ODI thriller during the time Spain and Argentina dished out a snoozefest in the FIFA World Cup final.
New Zealand register nervy one-wicket win over West Indies
With all the focus of the sporting world on a potential World Cup two-peat for Lionel Messi, Mitchell Santner drove his team to a nervy one-wicket win over the West Indies at around the same time. He shared a 26-ball last-wicket partnership with No.11 Jayden Lennox and survived a dropped catch to see the Black Caps through.
Needing 189 to win and seal the five-match series, the New Zealand skipper walked in at No.7 upon Mark Chapman’s dismissal, with 47 runs more needed and five wickets and almost 25 overs to spare. Chapman, with his 82-ball 80, had set up the chase perfectly for the visitors in Barbados.
A 20-minute rain break, however, broke New Zealand’s momentum, and Gudakesh Motie bowled the set Michael Bracewell on the first delivery after the restart. Santner and Nathan Smith, the last recognised batting pair together, added 17 runs in 43 balls, but Alzarri Joseph sent Smith back to expose the long tail.
Motie piled further pressure on New Zealand, removing Jacob Duffy and Matthew Fisher in consecutive overs to reduce them to 180-9 in the 40th. With nine runs more needed and only Lennox for company, Santner took the onus of the run-scoring, while the left-arm spinner blocked everything that came his way.
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With three runs needed, Santner skied a Jayden Seales delivery, but Justin Greaves and Ackeem Auguste collided while trying to complete the catch, giving the New Zealand skipper and his team a lifeline as scores were levelled. Lennox then played out a maiden off Vitel Lawes, also surviving an LBW scare on the last delivery of the over.
Santner completed the one-wicket win with a single off the first ball of the next over, while Lennox stayed unbeaten on zero off 10. Motie finished with a career-best 5-47.
Earlier in the day, Amir Jangoo’s second 50+ score in ODIs (51 off 73) and a 56-ball 41 from Motie took the West Indies to 188 after two separate collapses. They went from 54-1 to 81-6, and then from 162-6 to 188 all out. Fisher took three wickets for 40 while Bracewell and Santner picked up two each.
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