West Indies (149/9) beat New Zealand (136/9) by 13 runs at Brian Lara Stadium on Thursday to secure a place in the Super Eights. The West Indies, batting first, amassed 149 runs thanks to an extraordinary innings from Sherfane Rutherford (68/39). In response, New Zealand faltered as Akeal Hosein (1/21), Alzarri Joseph (4/19), and Gudakesh Motie (3/25) decimated the Kiwi lineup.
The Scorecard
Kane Williamson (1/2) won the toss on a lively Trinidad pitch and chose to field. Initially, this seemed a brilliant decision with the West Indies losing 5 wickets within 7 overs. With the West Indies precariously positioned at 112 for 9, Rutherford came to the rescue, delivering one of the most memorable innings of the T20 World Cup.
Rutherford added 37 crucial runs in the final overs, propelling the West Indies to 149. Buoyed by this momentum, the West Indies bowlers continued their dominance. Akeal Hosein set the tone by dismissing Devon Conway (5/8). Alzarri Joseph exploited his pace, taking 4 wickets to leave New Zealand with no chance.
With their Super 8 spot secured, the West Indies now look formidable moving forward. Conversely, New Zealand’s chances are slim, though not entirely over.
Here are five key moments that shaped the match.
Romario Shepherd and Sherfane Rutherford’s resilience
At the 13th over, the West Indies were reeling at 76 for 7 after Andre Russell (14/7) fell. Desperately needing a partnership, Romario Shepherd (13/13) stepped up. Shepherd and Rutherford added 37 runs for the 8th wicket, guiding their team deeper into the innings. This partnership provided a platform for Rutherford’s heroics and steered the West Indies towards victory. 
Rutherford’s brilliance in the death overs
Rutherford stood as the West Indies’ lone warrior throughout the innings. When the 9th wicket fell, it was clear an onslaught was imminent. Accumulating 37 runs in the final overs, Rutherford elevated the score to 149 from a precarious 112 for 9. Targeting New Zealand’s weak spots, Rutherford smashed six sixes, demonstrating the optimal strategy on such a challenging wicket.
Alzarri Joseph’s early burst
The powerplay was vital for New Zealand to establish a platform. However, Hosein disrupted their plans by dismissing Conway for a duck in his second over. Finn Allen (26/23) resisted but eventually succumbed to Joseph’s perfectly executed bouncer, giving the West Indies an early edge.
Gudakesh Motie’s spellbinding performance
Chasing 150, New Zealand’s hopes heavily rested on Kane Williamson. Yet, Motie dismissed him with a phenomenal delivery before he could settle. In a dazzling spell, Motie removed Williamson, Daryl Mitchell (12/13), and Rachin Ravindra (10/13), ending New Zealand’s chase.
Joseph’s decisive strike
Glenn Phillips (40/33) was the only New Zealander who appeared comfortable on the Trinidad pitch. In the second innings, Phillips aimed to emulate Rutherford’s performance. As Phillips and Mitchell Santner (21/12) stood firm, New Zealand needed 50 runs off the last three overs. Despite Phillips’ form, Joseph crucially dismissed him in the 18th over, securing the West Indies’ victory.
Having secured their Super 8 berth with commendable performances, the West Indies batting needs fine-tuning, but their bowlers have excelled. They face Afghanistan on June 18. On the other hand, New Zealand needs a miracle to advance and will play a must-win game against Uganda on June 15.
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