Image Credit- ICC
A sensational rescue effort from Sherfane Rutherford set up a third win on the trot for West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2024 while putting New Zealand on the verge of elimination at the Brian Lara stadium in Tarouba. With the win, the co-hosts have also secured a spot in the Super Eight.
New Zealand’s fast bowlers dictated proceedings in the powerplay to have West Indies four down in the first innings. Rutherford found little support as West Indies slid to 112 for 9 after 18 overs, but he plundered 37 runs off the last two overs to take the co-hosts to 149.
When Rutherford came in to bat in the sixth over, the collapse of the West Indies top order had put him in new circumstances. In the powerplay, he faced a ball for the second time in his Twenty20 international career. However, he divided his time between Hosein, Andre Russell, and Romario Shepherd. Before he eventually let loose in the final two overs, his only two boundary shots for a while were two sixes off drag-downs from James Neesham and Mitchell Santner.
By playing a calculated risk and exhausting their finest front-line bowlers early, New Zealand gave Santner the final over and Daryl Mitchell the penultimate.
By the 18th over, West Indies had just one wicket remaining, almost proving the viability of the method. Nevertheless, Rutherford held his ground as he first went for Mitchell, hitting him for consecutive sixes down the V’ and then putting the ball over the fine-leg fence for the over’s third six.
On his way to a 33-ball half-century, he then struck Santner for two fours and a magnificent six slog-swept from wide of off over wide long-on. West Indies reached 149 thanks to 37 runs in the final two overs, a total that appeared unachievable for nearly all of the innings.
By the 18th over, West Indies had just one wicket remaining, almost proving the viability of the method. Nevertheless, Rutherford held his ground as he first went for Mitchell, hitting him for consecutive sixes down the V’ and then putting the ball over the fine-leg fence for the over’s third six.
On his way to a 33-ball half-century, he then struck Santner for two fours and a magnificent six slog-swept from wide of off over wide long-on. West Indies reached 149 thanks to 37 runs in the final two overs, a total that appeared unachievable for nearly all of the innings.
Even though he lost Devon Conway in the third over, Finn Allen contributed to New Zealand’s early success in the chase. In the second over, Allen got things rolling by dragging Shepherd behind square for a boundary and then lifting Hosein over cow corner. Then, with the additional bounce doing him in, Hosein had Conway caught at fine leg as he top-edged trying to sweep. Allen then cut Hosein for two more fours after flicking Russell behind square.
After Joseph was brought on in the sixth over, Rutherford dropped him while he was going back from point. Joseph had taken a leading edge off him. However, Allen misplayed a pull to Russell at deep square leg one ball later.
After Joseph was brought on in the sixth over, Rutherford dropped him while he was going back from point. Joseph had taken a leading edge off him. However, Allen misplayed a pull to Russell at deep square leg one ball later.
West Indies took two wickets in two overs when Motie struck in his opening over, forcing Williamson to nick behind trying to cut. He got Rachin Ravindra, who batted at number three, to hole out to deep midwicket in his subsequent over. With a peach that pitched on middle and spun past the outside edge to slam into the stumps, Motie dismissed Mitchell in his third over.
The West Indies’ left-arm spinners, Motie and Hosein, combined for 4 for 46 from their eight overs, and offspinner Roston Chase bowled an over that yielded four runs.
The West Indies’ left-arm spinners, Motie and Hosein, combined for 4 for 46 from their eight overs, and offspinner Roston Chase bowled an over that yielded four runs.
Following the spin choke, New Zealand’s asking rate increased. Joseph took Neesham, and New Zealand required 65 off 29 deliveries. Then, in an attempt to press the situation, Phillips struck Russell for a four and a six before removing Joseph in the 18th over after consecutive boundaries. But as Phillips attempted to pull again and skied a catch to long-on running in, Joseph got the last laugh.
The victory for the West Indies was essentially assured when Joseph got Southee to be caught off his own bowling to end with a four-wicket haul.
The victory for the West Indies was essentially assured when Joseph got Southee to be caught off his own bowling to end with a four-wicket haul.