West Indies secured a Super Eight spot in the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup after staging a grand fightback to complete a hard-fought victory by 13 runs over New Zealand on Wednesday night.
Before a packed crowd at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in south Trinidad, West Indies recovered from disastrous 30 for five on the back of Sherfane Rutherford’s splendid unbeaten 68 off 39 balls that helped them post a competitive 149 for nine.
Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie then combined to share seven wickets in a tense run-chase in which West Indies were able to restrict their opponents to 136 for nine.
It was West Indies’ third successive win that took them to the top of the standings in Group C and assured a place in the Super Eight stage.
Batting first on a slow pitch after they were sent in, the hosts were reeling from early and required explosive hitting for the left-handed Rutherford who smashed six sixes and two fours in a knock that earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.
West Indies looked to be short of a challenging total when they were 112 for nine after 18 overs but Rutherford took complete control at the end of the innings and added 37 with Motie from the last two overs.
In New Zealand’s response, the match was in the balance at 39 for two in the seventh over before Motie turned it towards West Indies’ favour by grabbing three mid-innings wickets that left the total 63 for five after 11 overs.
When Glenn Phillips threatened to bring New Zealand back into the contest with an enterprising 40 off 33 balls, Joseph returned to claim three wickets at a crucial stage.
It left New Zealand needing 33 from the last over in which Romario Shepherd was struck for three sixes, but West Indies had enough to defend and send the Black Caps crashing to a second straight defeat.
Joseph finished with four for 19 from four overs while Motie took three for 25 in his four overs. (HG)
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