Twitter Reactions: Brandon King, Odean Smith guide West Indies to consolation victory

West Indies recorded a consolidation win as they managed to end their five-game losing streak in T20Is and won the final T20I against New Zealand by eight wickets at Sabina Park in Kingston. Earlier in the game, New Zealand opted to bat first after winning the toss, and the visitors lost the early wicket of Martin Guptill for a 13-ball 15.

Mitchell Santner was sent in as a pinch hitter at number three and he scored two boundaries before getting dismissed for a 11-ball 13. Devon Conway followed him and the likes of Kane Williamson and Glenn Phillips had to do the stitching work. While Phillips was striking at a good rate, Williamson took his time to settle and was removed finally for a 27-ball 24.

Daryl Mitchell and James Neesham could not make much of a contribution down the order and it was Phillips’s innings that got the Kiwis to a decent total of 145 in 20 overs. The right-hander finished with 41 off 26 balls, comprising four fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 157.69.

Odean Smith’s three-wicket haul reduced New Zealand to a par total

Odean Smith was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies with 3 for 29 in his four-over spell, while Akeal Hosein grabbed two in an economical spell. In reply, the hosts had a brilliant start with both openers Brandon King and Shamarh Brooks, going after the bowling straightaway. King took the responsibility of being the aggressor in the partnership, and he raised to fifty in no time.

After the 100-run partnership, King was removed in the 14th over for a 35-ball 53. Brooks played the situation quite well and took his time to get closer to the target. Stand-in skipper Rovman Powell unleashed his hitting prowess, and his 15-ball 27 ensured the West Indies got over the line with one over to go.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to West Indies’s victory

WI's batting finally came together in the final T20I as they won by 8 wickets

Shamarh Brooks (56*) & Brandon King (53) with an excellent opening stand of 102

Series ends 2-1 to NZ#WIvNZ

— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) August 15, 2022

Regarding #WIvNZ –
Pooran rested himself today as captain and WI won lol,
Rovman Powell was the captain, his field changes and chopping of bowlers were really right up to the money

Pooran's performance was not even so dull like his field changes and handling of Bowlers in past

— The SN (@Alvorny) August 15, 2022

Most times scored 130+ runs batting at no. 4 or lower in a bilateral T20I series.

3 times – GLENN PHILLIPS 🇳🇿 ***
2 times – Glenn Maxwell 🇦🇺
2 times – Eoin Morgan 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
2 times – JP Dumminy 🇿🇦#WIvNZ pic.twitter.com/8gokkUqkwR

— Thurunu Jayasiri (@ThurunuJ) August 15, 2022

Black Caps won T20 series by 2-1. Its their 1st ever white-ball series win in the Caribbean! 👏💯 #WIvNZ

— Asim Gorsi 🇵🇰 (@asimgorsi10) August 15, 2022

@windiescricket Won 3rd T20I by 8 Wickets. Excellent spell. Career Best T20I Bowling figures for Odean Smith 3/29. Well bowled @AHosein21 2/28. Superb Knock @bking_53 53*(35) [Player of the Match] and S Brooks 56*.#WIvNZ @wiplayers

— JaayShaan (Shankar) (@JaayShaan) August 15, 2022

Finally some respite for @windiescricket by winning the 3rd #T20I against @BLACKCAPS. #WestIndies not looking as dangerous as they once were without their star players. Can they make it to the semis in the #WT20? #WIvsNZ #WIvNZ #Cricket

— Shakir Mohaseen (@ShakirMohaseen) August 14, 2022

Kane Williamson ia a serious worry for NZ, he is not capable to score runs this year, we have seen this in ipl too. In ipl he played with a strike rate of 97 as a opener. He didn't score runs in test vs eng too. But nobody is talking about him 🤷. Wht do you think? @manoj_dimri

— Tushar Panthari (@Tushar11633233) August 15, 2022

West Indies 102-0 wow we needed this type of cricket on Friday..Superb innings Brandon King great job.

— fernie (@smartfern) August 14, 2022

Another half century for Brandon King future is bright for the young batsman can see him playing in the IPL next season

— Alexander (@Alexander_1link) August 14, 2022

The West Indies bowling today- massive improvement. Line and length and accumulation of Kiwi dot balls. Just 2 extras. It’s a feat for a team when you’re the West Indies. No jokes.

Glenn Phillips fine fine batting. #WIvNZ

— caught@point (@caughtatpoint17) August 14, 2022