NZ Hold Nerve to Edge WI by 3 Runs in 2nd T20I at Eden Park

The New Zealand top-order started well. Tim Robinson established the mood in the opening overs, crushing 39 off 25 balls. He struck through the offside, and Romario Shepherd got the breakthrough. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra followed soon after, but both were dismissed before they could gain traction. The West Indies, at 59 for 2, appeared to be in the lead.

Mark Chapman then turned the game around with the blistering 78 off just 28 deliveries. He struck six fours and seven sixes, breathing life into the Kiwi innings. Daryl Mitchell (28 off 14) accompanied him, and they put the bowlers of the West Indies under heavy fire. The storming partnership that defined the innings ended when Chapman fell in the 17th over.

Mitchell Santner contributed a scorching 18 off 8 balls as New Zealand crossed the 200, to end with 207 for 5. The bowlers in the West Indies were not very economical; Roston Chase took 2 for 33, while Matthew Forde claimed 1 for 17. Jayden Seales was targeted by the Kiwi batters, conceding 61 runs in his four overs.

Chasing 208, the West Indies had a rough start as Brandon King fell for a duck to Jacob Duffy. Alick Athanaze kept hopes alive with a rapid 33 off 25 balls with three sixes, before Ish Sodhi struck twice in quick succession. Skipper Shai Hope made 24, and Ackeem Auguste and Jason Holder fell cheaply as the visitors slumped to 86 for 5 by the 12th over.

The turning point was the rise of Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd to power. Powell, in a sensational cameo of 45 off 16 balls, struck six sixes with unrivaled force. Shepherd added 34 off 16, hitting four maximums. The pair added 62 runs off just 24 balls, reigniting the chase. The crowd at Eden Park was watching their stunning knocks nervously as the equation narrowed to the last over.

Mitchell Santner, however, came to the ball at the right time. The West Indies needed 16 in the final over. Despite a late surge of 29 off 13 balls from Matthew Forde, the visitors fell just three runs short, finishing on 204 for 8.

Composed and calm in the death overs, Santner and Sodhi led New Zealand’s defense with three wickets each. Jacob Duffy was steady early on, while Jamieson’s crucial wicket of Powell proved vital in preventing another Caribbean comeback.

The victory has tied the series at 1-1, with the 3rd T20I providing an appetizing contest as the struggle to take charge proceeds.

Final Scores

New Zealand 207/5 (20 ov)

Mark Chapman 78 (28), Tim Robinson 39 (25), Daryl Mitchell 28* (14); Roston Chase 2/33,

Matthew Forde 1/17

West Indies 204/8 (20 ov)

Rovman Powell 45 (16), Romario Shepherd 34 (16), Alick Athanaze 33 (25); Ish Sodhi 3/39,

Mitchell Santner 3/31

Result: New Zealand won by 3 runs; series level 1-1.