From 88/8, West Indies Nearly Chase Down 178 Thanks To Shepherd-Springer Record Stand
It has been an outstanding series between New Zealand and the West Indies so far. In the three matches, the team chasing have looked down and out and have clawed their way back to make a match of it, narrowly missing out in the end.
That’s what happened in the third T20 International (T20I) in Nelson as well, where the game looked done and dusted with West Indies tottering at 88/8 in the 13th over, in pursuit of 178 against New Zealand.
With 90 required of 45 with just a couple of wickets in hand, it looked like it was New Zealand’s to lose, and they nearly did. Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer then launched an assault that took West Indies within touching distance. The duo put on 78 off just 39 deliveries for the ninth wicket, which is the highest T20I partnership at No. 8 or below among full members, and fourth overall.
Highest partnership at No. 8 or below in T20Is
132* Saber Zakhil, Saqlain Ali (BEL) vs AUT, Waterloo, 2021
88* Chernoh Bah, Lansana Lamin (SLE) vs EST, Abuja, 2024
80 Preston Mommsen, Safiyan Sharif (SCO) vs NED, Edinburgh, 2015
78 Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer (WI) vs NZ, Nelson, 2025
76 Ahmadullah Shinwari, Sher Sahak (NOR) vs POR, Albergaria, 2025
Springer was dismissed for 39 off 20, which included three fours and three sixes. Shepherd, on the other hand, was the last man out for 49 off just 34 deliveries. New Zealand hung on to a nine-run victory to go 2-1 up in the five-match series.
In the first T20I a late blitz from Mitchell Santner saw New Zealand get close but eventually fall short by seven runs at Eden Park. In the next game at the same venue, in pursuit of 208, West Indies recovered from 93/6 to succumb to a three-run loss in a high-scoring encounter.
The two teams will clash once again in the fourth T20I on November 10 (Monday) in Nelson.
