New Zealand Takes Series
Santner's All-Round Heroics Guide New Zealand to Thrilling ODI Series Win Over West Indies
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Key Points
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Mitchell Santner was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance, finishing unbeaten on 34 off 56 and taking 2 for 36 with the ball as NZ chased down 189.
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Matthew Fisher took 3 for 40 for West Indies in NZ's chase, providing early bursts to keep the target within range.
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Amir Jangoo and Gudakesh Motie added 81 for the seventh-wicket partnership to give WI a fighting chance after an early collapse.
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A dramatic late moment saw a dropped catch when a collision between fielders Alick Athanaze and Justin Greaves prevented NZ from losing another key wicket, before Santner sealed the win next over.
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The Bridgetown ODI carried Sobers tribute elements before kickoff, including black armbands, a minute's silence, and two empty seats in the Sir Garry Sobers Pavilion.
New Zealand have sealed a five-match ODI series against West Indies with a game to spare, edging a one-wicket thriller at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. Yahoo Sports reported the Black Caps chased down 189 with nine runs needed and one wicket in hand — as dramatic a finish as the format allows.
Mitchell Santner was the hero, finishing unbeaten on 34 off 56 balls after also taking 2 for 36 with the ball. The result gives New Zealand a 3-1 lead — their second series win on this tour.
Santner and Chapman Drag NZ Over the Line
West Indies were bowled out for 188, but that total looked dangerous early in New Zealand's reply. Matthew Fisher took 3 for 40, keeping the chase tight and piling pressure on the middle order. Mark Chapman top-scored with 80 to lay the foundation, but wickets kept tumbling. Jamaica Gleaner noted that Chapman and Santner's partnership proved decisive in steadying the innings.
With nine runs needed and one wicket left, a moment of luck helped New Zealand. A collision between fielders Alick Athanaze and Justin Greaves caused a dropped catch, sparing a key NZ wicket. Yahoo Sports reported Santner then sealed the win the very next over. He was named Player of the Match for his all-round display.
Jangoo and Motie Give West Indies Late Fight
West Indies looked in serious trouble with the bat before Amir Jangoo and Gudakesh Motie rescued them. The pair added 81 runs for the seventh wicket. Jangoo made 51, while Motie chipped in with valuable lower-order runs. That partnership lifted West Indies to a total that could have been far lower.
Motie had also starred with the ball, taking five wickets to keep New Zealand's batters honest throughout the series. Newsy Today noted that his spell unsettled NZ in earlier games. But his batting heroics on this day were not quite enough to deny the tourists.
Teams Pause to Honor Sir Garry Sobers in Bridgetown
The match carried emotional weight beyond the scoreboard. Both teams wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence before the game. Yahoo Sports reported that two seats were left empty in the Sir Garry Sobers Pavilion as a tribute to the cricket legend, who died two days before the match was played.
Sobers is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time. Playing the match at Kensington Oval — his home ground — gave the tribute extra meaning. Players and fans in Bridgetown took a moment to reflect before the action began.
New Zealand's Consistent Tour Batting and Bowling
New Zealand's series win was built on balance across the squad. Santner and Michael Bracewell contributed with both bat and ball across multiple games. Newsy Today highlighted that lower-order batter Jayden Lennox also made crucial contributions late in the chase on more than one occasion during the series.
The Black Caps now lead 3-1 with one game still to play. Jamaica Gleaner said the result underscores New Zealand's consistency on this tour. The fifth and final ODI gives them a chance to complete a 4-1 series win.
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