Their dream of going into the Super Eight stage in this ongoing T20 World Cup was at risk after New Zealand, who were beaten by 13 runs by West Indies on Thursday in Trinidad. The hosts and co-hosts who just won their first three games have now taken up the fourth spot for the second round.
The other three teams already qualified for the Super Eights are – India, Australia and South Africa.
Batting first, West Indies were precariously placed at 30-5 by the seventh over. However, Sherfane Rutherford’s breathtaking unbeaten 68 off only 39 balls including two fours and six sixes took home team to a respectable score of 149/9.
In response, Black Caps who had earlier been pummeled by Afghanistan in their opening game struggled to build any momentum during their chase. Kiwis could only manage a total of 136/9; with Glenn Phillips’ (40 off 33) being the solitary real danger to WI’s bowling attack.
It was a win-win situation for the West Indians bowlers as paceman Alzarri Joseph bagged four wickets for just nineteen runs while spinners Gudakesh Motie claimed three wickets and Akeal Hosein grabbed one wicket.
Nonetheless, Santner’s late explosive efforts which saw him hit Romario Shepherd with a hat-trick of maximums in the last over notwithstanding. When Philiphps fell to Joseph in over eighteen it effectively became out of reach.
With defeat against Papua New Guinea in Afghanistan on Friday confirming their exit from the competition, New Zealand hangs by a thread. In contrast, despite having one group match left against Afghanisthan next St Lucia on Monday west indies has booked their place into Super Eight phase.
