After Sri Lanka upset favourites England, & a sprightly Afghanistan came close to upsetting India, it was another nail biting match at Old Trafford Manchester, as former Champions West Indies came agonisingly close to overhauling their target of 292 runs, before losing by just 5 runs to New Zealand - the World Cup is now really heating up.
West Indies, chasing an uphill target of 292 runs, recovered from an early loss of two wickets to be well on course, with 142 runs on board for 2 after 22 overs. Simron Hetmyer scored a quickfire 54 before getting bowled by Ferguson, while BossMan Chris Gayle went on to score 87 runs. Against the run of play, wickets fell in a heap at this stage, as they were reduced to 164 for 7 in the 27th over. However, Carlos Braithwaite had other ideas, as he paired with the tailenders to raise hopes of an improbable Windies victory. In a smart sensible display of controlled batting, he put up 47 runs with Roach, & with Cottrell 34 runs to take the score to 245 for 9 at the end of 45th over, when last man in Oshane Thomas joined him at the centre, still 47 runs adrift of target. Braithwaite, then showing immense batting maturity, saw off the last overs from Boult & Ferguson, as 33 runs were needed in the last 3 overs. He then tore into Matt Henry, smashing three consecutive sixes & a four to score 25 runs in the 47th over, as the Windies needed just 8 runs from 12 deliveries. He duly competed his maiden ODI century in the next over, but in trying to hit Neesham out of the ground, holed out to a sprinting Boult, inches away from the ropes, as the Kiwis managed a jailbreak, winning the contest by 5 runs & stay on course for a semi final spot.
Braithwaite brought back memories of the last T20 finals in 2016, when he had staged a Windies victory, blasting four sixes of Ben Stokes in the final over. Today too, he pulled the Windies up from a precipitous downfall, bringing them to jaws of victory, getting his century in just 81 deliveries, before getting out - Crestfallen, he slumped on his knees, as the Kiwis celebrated in relief. Trent Boult was the wrecker in chief, claiming 4 wickets for just 30 runs, while Ferguson chipped in with 3 for 59.
Earlier, put into bat, the Kiwis were shell shocked, as Sheldon Cottrell removed both the openers Guptill & Munro for first ball ducks, as the score read 7 for 2 at the end of first over. Veteran Ross Taylor & capt Williamson, then dug deep at the crease for a 160 runs partnership to steady the innings, before Taylor fell for a composed 69 runs in the 35th over. Williamson continued, pacing his innings nicely to reach his 2nd hundred of the tournament, before getting out, caught behind to Cottrell for a splendid, match winning innings of 148 runs. Low order Neesham 28, Gandhomme 16 & Santner 10, all slogged to good effect, as New Zealand ended their innings at 291 for 8. Cottrell bowled with venom to pick 4 wickets, while Braithwaite claimed 2. It was a slightly below par, but competitive score at that stage & then the drama followed.
The Windies innings stuttered, then recovered, then fell in a heap & then Braithwaite slugfest happened, as fans from both sides swung from ecstasy to despair to hope - the match moving towards a nail biting finish.
In the end Kiwis remain undefeated & on top of the table with 11 points from 6 games, almost assured of a semifinal slot, while West Indies stay languishing at the bottom half with just 3 points from 6 games - they are virtually out of reckoning, after starting the tournament with such flourish - they still play for pride.
West Indies, chasing an uphill target of 292 runs, recovered from an early loss of two wickets to be well on course, with 142 runs on board for 2 after 22 overs. Simron Hetmyer scored a quickfire 54 before getting bowled by Ferguson, while BossMan Chris Gayle went on to score 87 runs. Against the run of play, wickets fell in a heap at this stage, as they were reduced to 164 for 7 in the 27th over. However, Carlos Braithwaite had other ideas, as he paired with the tailenders to raise hopes of an improbable Windies victory. In a smart sensible display of controlled batting, he put up 47 runs with Roach, & with Cottrell 34 runs to take the score to 245 for 9 at the end of 45th over, when last man in Oshane Thomas joined him at the centre, still 47 runs adrift of target. Braithwaite, then showing immense batting maturity, saw off the last overs from Boult & Ferguson, as 33 runs were needed in the last 3 overs. He then tore into Matt Henry, smashing three consecutive sixes & a four to score 25 runs in the 47th over, as the Windies needed just 8 runs from 12 deliveries. He duly competed his maiden ODI century in the next over, but in trying to hit Neesham out of the ground, holed out to a sprinting Boult, inches away from the ropes, as the Kiwis managed a jailbreak, winning the contest by 5 runs & stay on course for a semi final spot.
Braithwaite brought back memories of the last T20 finals in 2016, when he had staged a Windies victory, blasting four sixes of Ben Stokes in the final over. Today too, he pulled the Windies up from a precipitous downfall, bringing them to jaws of victory, getting his century in just 81 deliveries, before getting out - Crestfallen, he slumped on his knees, as the Kiwis celebrated in relief. Trent Boult was the wrecker in chief, claiming 4 wickets for just 30 runs, while Ferguson chipped in with 3 for 59.
Earlier, put into bat, the Kiwis were shell shocked, as Sheldon Cottrell removed both the openers Guptill & Munro for first ball ducks, as the score read 7 for 2 at the end of first over. Veteran Ross Taylor & capt Williamson, then dug deep at the crease for a 160 runs partnership to steady the innings, before Taylor fell for a composed 69 runs in the 35th over. Williamson continued, pacing his innings nicely to reach his 2nd hundred of the tournament, before getting out, caught behind to Cottrell for a splendid, match winning innings of 148 runs. Low order Neesham 28, Gandhomme 16 & Santner 10, all slogged to good effect, as New Zealand ended their innings at 291 for 8. Cottrell bowled with venom to pick 4 wickets, while Braithwaite claimed 2. It was a slightly below par, but competitive score at that stage & then the drama followed.
The Windies innings stuttered, then recovered, then fell in a heap & then Braithwaite slugfest happened, as fans from both sides swung from ecstasy to despair to hope - the match moving towards a nail biting finish.
In the end Kiwis remain undefeated & on top of the table with 11 points from 6 games, almost assured of a semifinal slot, while West Indies stay languishing at the bottom half with just 3 points from 6 games - they are virtually out of reckoning, after starting the tournament with such flourish - they still play for pride.
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