West Indies salvaged some pride out of their T20I series against New Zealand with a consolation win in the third match in Jamaica on August 14. The Calypso Kings came up with an impressive allround display and ended up triumphant by eight wickets.
They restricted the Kiwis to a manageable 145/7 in their allotted 20 overs and reached home comfortably with an over left in the proceedings.
The Caribbean men found heroes with the ball and the bat, with left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (2/28) and allrounder Odean Smith (3/29) coming to the party in the first half. Dominic Drakes, with his tight spell of 1/19, was another critical performer.
They kept an in-form New Zealand batting unit down below 150-mark, with the struggles of skipper Kane Williamson through his painstaking 24 off 27 balls summing up the stranglehold that West Indies maintained.
The Black Caps’ only saving grace with bat in hand was their mighty powerhitter Glenn Phillips, who smashed his way to 41 off 26 balls and was the key reason why the Kiwis inched over 140.
West Indies got off to a solid start in the run-chase, thanks to half-centuries from their opening batters Shamarh Brooks and Brandon King. While King hammered the Kiwi bowling attack to 53 off 35 deliveries, including 4 fours and 3 sixes, Brooks batted sedately for his unbeaten 56 off 59 balls.
Kings’ blitz at the other end gave Brooks breathing space as he could prolong his stay in the middle without taking risks. The right-hander focused on remaining till the end and did that successfully alongside stand-in captain Rovman Powell, who was in the mood to destroy throughout his 15-ball 27 not out.
Lockie Ferguson, with figures of 0/16 off his 4 overs, was the only positive with the ball for New Zealand from the T20I series finale.
Brief scores
New Zealand 145/7 in 20 overs (Phillips 41; Smith 3/29, Hosein 2/28) lost to West Indies 150/2 in 19 overs (Brooks 56*, King 53; Sodhi 1/36) by 8 wickets
