NELSON, New Zealand (CMC):
For the second straight match, New Zealand held their nerves to thwart another remarkable West Indies fightback and take the third T20I by nine runs in another thrilling contest here on Sunday.
New Zealand would have been disappointed with their total of 177 for nine from their 20 overs after electing to bat first at Saxton Oval, after a blistering start put them in a strong position to score over 200.
The West Indies’ top order failed yet again in their run chase to see them slump to 88 for eight, until Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer’s heroics fell just short to see them dismissed for 168 off the penultimate ball of the match.
It gave the home side an all-important 2-1 lead in the five-match-series.
West Indies did well to restrict New Zealand to their eventual total after opener Devon Conway, who scored 56 off 34 balls, forged meaningful partnerships with Tim Robinson for the first wicket, and then Rachin Ravindra, that put them in the ascendancy at 97 for one in the 11th over.
But, once Shepherd prised out the wicket of Ravindra for 26, the Black Caps lost their momentum.
Conway, who struck six fours and two boundaries, was run out by a direct hit from Alick Athanaze at deep midwicket, and Michael Bracewell also went by the run-out route to leave New Zealand 144 for four in the 16th over.
Daryl Mitchell hit some lusty blows in his knock of 41 off 24 balls containing three sixes and two fours, but New Zealand only mustered a further 33 runs from their final four overs, while losing five wickets.
Matthew Forde was the pick of the Windies’ bowlers with 2-20 from his four overs, while Jason Holder took 2-31.
West Indies’ opening pair of Amir Jangoo and Alick Athanaze began positively, hitting Kyle Jamieson for three boundaries in the first over of the innings that went for 13 runs.
However, Jangoo’s stay at the crease was short-lived as he chopped the first ball of the ensuing over from Jacob Duffy onto his stumps.
Four balls later, captain Shai Hope pulled a short delivery from Duffy straight into the hands of deep backward square leg to see the West Indies slip to 15 for two.
Athanaze and Ackeem Auguste added 38 runs for the third wicket before the latter, who was dropped on 19, edged a delivery from spinner Ish Sodhi to be caught behind for 31.
Sherfane Rutherford’s wretched form with the bat continued, as he made just one before he miscued his attempted drive off spinner Michael Bracewell and was caught at short third man.
Rovman Powell was then bowled by Sodhi attempting a big heave and Auguste was run out after sauntering for a sharp single to leave the visitors sputtering on 68 for six.
Jason Holder scored three runs before being dismissed by Mitchell Santner, and Forde hit a boundary but was then trapped leg before wicket by Sodhi to put New Zealand firmly in control at 88 for eight.
However, Shepherd and Springer’s partnership of 78 runs in just over six overs pumped life back into the Windies’ chase.
Shepherd hit Duffy for a six and four off consecutive balls in the 15th over, and Springer joined in on the action by smashing Jamieson for successive boundaries in the 17th over.
He followed that up by blasting pacer James Neesham for a four and six to start the 18th over, which Shepherd ended by clobbering the bowler over fine leg for six.
Needing 24 runs from the last two overs, Shepherd smashed Duffy’s second and third ball of the penultimate over for a four and six.
Duffy made amends, though, by pulling off a spectacular catch, diving full stretch to his left, to dismiss Springer off the last ball of the over for a well-played 39 off 20 balls and leave the score 166 for nine.
The Windies would have fancied their chances of getting the required 12 runs off the last over with Shepherd at the crease but, like the second match, Jamieson bowled a spectacular final over by conceding just two runs and claiming the prized wicket of Shepherd for 49 off 34 balls to end the match with one ball remaining.
Player of the Match Sodhi ended with 3-34 and Duffy 3-36.
