West Indies beat New Zealand, West Indies won by 13 runs
West Indies officially advanced to the next stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 following a thrilling encounter that had cricket fans on the edge of their seats. The Kiwis were all but eliminated from the tournament after they suffered a clutch loss to fellow tournament heavyweights Netherlands.
Sherfane Rutherford: The Hero of the Match
Middle-order bat Sherfane Rutherford emerged as the hero for the home side. He produced one of the innings of the tournament, helping the West Indies set a strong target. His mind-blowing knock was instrumental in securing a spot for the West Indies in the second round.
New Zealand’s Struggle
The Kiwis, having suffered their second straight defeat, displayed signs of sharp purpose early on. Trent Boult made it count, forcing Johnson Charles to chop on to end the first over. However, their efforts stalled as the match progressed.
West Indies’ Dominant Powerplay
The wicket of captain Rovman Powell capped off a dominant Powerplay for the Kiwis. However, it was left for the hosts’ middle and lower order to pick up the pieces when opener Brandon King’s dismissal became the Black Caps’ fifth blow with the ball.
Rutherford’s Powerplay
Rutherford managed to hang around, anchoring his side’s pursuit of a competitive total. He turned the final five overs into his own ‘Powerplay’ of sorts, blasting five sixes and two fours. He brought up his 50 on the final ball of the 19th over and pounded 18 runs off the final six deliveries.
Record-Breaking Partnership
The Guyanese slugger produced one of the innings of the tournament so far, registering an unbeaten 68 off 39 balls. Rutherford scored all 37 runs in the closing partnership with Gudakesh Motie, which became a new 10th wicket record in ICC T20 World Cup history.
New Zealand’s Chase
With five overs to go, New Zealand required 65 runs for victory. Despite their best efforts, they fell short. The West Indies officially booked their spot in the second round with a 13-run win, leaving New Zealand’s innings at 136/9 off 20 overs.
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