ICC World Cup 2019: Match 29, Windies vs New Zealand, Review – Carlos Brathwaite’s heroics go in vain; Kiwis clinch the Manchester humdinger

The indomitable force named New Zealand successfully cleared another major hurdle with flying colours, making it five wins in six games for the side. They now have 11 points in six games, which pretty much confirms their semifinal qualification with three games remaining. West Indies had their moments and were a few inches away from winning the game, but the Blackcaps triumphed, by fine margins.

The game got off to the most dramatic start possible, with Sheldon Cottrell picking up a wicket off the first ball of the innings, Martin Guptill walked back for a duck. Kane Williamson then hit a boundary off the next ball, but Cottrell managed to remove the other opener Colin Munro for a golden duck, which should’ve seen the bowling side take full control.

But Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor had other ideas as they continued their rich vein of form. Their fast bowlers were really cranking it up in the powerplay and both batsmen were technically astute enough to steer clear of that danger. They took some time to settle in, but made merry off the start they got. Both players completed their fifties off consecutive deliveries in the 24th over and their partnership too was threatening to go very big.

Ross Taylor was found a little too wanting at this point as he miscued a slog off Chris Gayle to get caught at long-off. Tom Latham too couldn’t survive for long, but Williamson began to up the ante. He got to his hundred in the 37th over, becoming only the fifth captain in history to register two hundreds in the same World Cup. He was lining up brilliantly for a huge score, but was dismissed for a brilliant 148 off 154 deliveries.

Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner contributed with some boundaries towards the end to help the Blackcaps register a more than respectable 291 runs on the board. Sheldon Cottrell was everywhere on the field for the Windies, picking up four wickets and also getting involved in three other dismissals.

Brathwaite-storm not good enough for the Windies

Evin Lewis couldn’t come out to open following his injury and his replacement Shai Hope could register just a single before Trent Boult knocked his stumps over. Chris Gayle found it very difficult to cope with the new ball threat, but once he saw it through, the beast in him was unleashed. He smashed some big sixes and took the charge against the Blackcaps.

Shimron Hetmyer and Gayle are two batsmen who will never enjoy playing a second-fiddle and both ended up in the over-drive mode after the 10th over. Gayle got to his half-century first and Hetmyer too played some terrific shots to keep up the pace. But once again, just the way it happened in their previous game, Hetmyer threw his wicket right after completing a fifty.

Lockie Ferguson deceived Hetmyer with a slower one and of his next ball, he dismissed skipper Jason Holder. Chris Gayle, who was getting close to a hundred, felt the pressure and eventually succumbed to it, getting caught at long-on in an attempt to clear the rope. Ashley Nurse fell prey to Boult’s brilliance and Lewis, who came out to bat despite carrying an injury, couldn’t sustain for more than three deliveries.

Carlos Brathwaite had other ideas on the day. The big man had a second version of “Remember the name” on the day and almost got the Windies into a winning position from the jaws of defeat. With 25 runs off Matt Henry’s 48th over, he got his side within touching distance to win the game. He completed his hundred with a two and off the final ball of the 49th over, he was caught at the tip of the boundary by Trent Boult. That ended Windies’ chase and gifted New Zealand an unforgettable win.

Brief Scores

New Zealand: 291/8 in 50 overs (Kane Williamson 148, Ross Taylor 69; Sheldon Cottrell 4/56)

Windies: 286 all out in 49 overs (Carlos Brathwaite 101, Chris Gayle 87; Trent Boult 4/30, Lockie Ferguson 3/59)

Result: New Zealand won by 5 runs

Man of the match: Kane Williamson