The Kiwis clinched the Twenty20 series against the West Indies with a huge win inspired by Glenn Phillips’ superb hitting and the spin of Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell on Friday.
Phillips starred with the bat, with his 76 from 41 balls featuring six sixes to all corners of Kingston’s Sabina Park, and he was supported by Devon Conway (42 from 31 balls) and Daryl Mitchell (48 from 20 balls) as the Black Caps posted the highest T20 score by a New Zeland in the West Indies, with 215-5.
Obed McKoy claiming the best bowling figures for West Indies with 3 for 40.
In reply, the visitors restricted West Indies to 125/9, and lost the match by 90 runs.
the West Indies were shambolic, slumping to a meagre 19-4 in West Indies’ sixth over after both Santner and Bracewell took wickets with their first ball. in the End, Seven West Indies wickets fell to spin bowlers, including the first four of the innings.
Mitchell Santner, who was Player-of-the-Match for his three for 19 in the first match, took a wicket with his first ball and two wickets in his opening over to set back West Indies’ run chase.
Off-spinner Michael Bracewell, who replaced fast bowler Lockie Ferguson in the New Zealand lineup, also took a wicket with his first delivery, dismissing captain Nicholas Pooran (1) as West Indies slumped to 12 for three at the start of the fourth over.
Santner and Bracewell both finished with three for 15 while Ish Sodhi took one for 36. Tim Southee took the only wicket which fell to a fast bowler, removing Odean Smith at the tail and returning one for 34.
Shimron Hetmyer was the first batter not to fall to a spin bowler, run out by a direct hit at the bowlers end by New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. The West Indies were 28 for five at that point and couldn’t recover.
“We just didn’t show up today,” Pooran said. “They batted us out of it and we couldn’t see our way with the bat. We had to stay in the game. It just didn’t start well for us. We are struggling but the more cricket we play our performance will grow.”
Phillips put to good use his knowledge of conditions at Sabina Park, which is his home ground in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
“Coming back to Sabina Park is amazing. I’ve got great memories here,” Phillips said in a television interview.
“Being able to get a 50 for my country over here in front of a crowd which I really love is definitely very special for me. Credit to the West Indies for the way they bowled up front with the new ball which was really, really good in terms of taking the pace off the ball when it was new and harder. As it got older the pitch became a bit nicer to bat on.”
The final T20I will be played on Sunday at the same venue, followed by three One-Day Internationals.