Image Credit- ICC
Played in the floodlights with high stakes, high talent, and high drama, this was Twenty20 at its finest. This encounter was designated as one of the largest of this stage when West Indies and New Zealand were drawn into the group of death. It was almost a knockout match as Afghanistan crushed New Zealand in Guyana.
Yes, the format was originally played professionally in England, and yes, India has made it into a massive commercial enterprise, but the heart and soul of T20 remains Trinidad. With a population of 1.5 million, this nation has created more superstars in the format than any other place in the globe, and great pride in their accomplishments stems from them.
This was remarkably the first men’s World Cup match played in Trinidad by the West Indies, in any format. With an 8.30 p.m. start time, the venue was almost full before the toss, with people wearing Trinidad red and West Indies maroon. Both of those shirt colours created long lines for fried fish and cool beer, blasted air horns and pounded drums, and fought for position on the expansive grassy banks on the eastern portion of the terrain.
Then, in less than 30 minutes, the West Indies were up 5 to 3. Despite the uneven bounce and two-paced ground, New Zealand’s seamers simply needed to smash away at a solid length. After three wickets were taken thanks to massive swipes, Rovman Powell and Brandon King both mishandled catches to Devon Conway.
West Indies’ recent success under Daren Sammy’s coaching has led expectations to swell ahead of a World Cup on home soil. “I just wonder if West Indies’ batters have not quite got the emotions under control,” Carlos Brathwaite, who snatched the 2016 title for them, said on commentary.
When Andre Russell entered the field at number eight, Kane Williamson, the captain of New Zealand, saw an opportunity to bowl the West Indies out and he seized it. He stuck with his four main seamers and pushed a fifth fielder up into the inner circle, bringing both mid-on and mid-off up, daring him to hit Lockie Ferguson down the ground.
After Williamson pushed mid-on back to the boundary, Russell obliged by crunching his first ball over Ferguson’s head for four. Russell then hit the very next ball over Ferguson’s head for six. However, Williamson remained unmoving; he threw to his best bowler, Trent Boult, and Russell mishandled his speared-in offcutter to short third.
Although Williamson will face harsh criticism for his choice to remove his top bowlers by the end of the 18th over, at 112 for 9, it appeared to have been a wise move. Williamson placed a large stake on his flush because he could not have predicted Sherfane Rutherford, who was at the time sitting at 31 off 27 balls, to turn up with a full house.
However, Rutherford destroyed Mitchell Santner and Daryl Mitchell at the last second, displaying a unique blend of skill and common sense. In the last two overs, he decided to confront every ball and went four for six and two for four.
The West Indies were unstoppable when they had the ball. Their spinners seized charge despite the thick dew: Devon Conway was removed early on by an arm ball from Akeal Hosein, while Motie dominated the middle overs. His pitch to strike out Mitchell had a round-arm trajectory, topped out at 62 mph/99 kph, pitched on leg, and hit middle-and-off, making it a strong candidate for ball of the tournament.
The West Indies were not flawless; catches were dropped and run-outs were not converted. Nevertheless, New Zealand was never able to muster a partnership of even 25, and Alzarri Joseph returned to bring things to a close at the back end with his fast and hard lengths.
The West Indies are now eliminated and can arrange their itinerary for the Super Eight, which includes St. Lucia, Barbados, and Antigua. The competition in New Zealand barely got underway and is almost finished. Sport doesn’t get much better than this: this was cricket with consequences, played in front of an enthusiastic audience every ball.