The West Indies secured a crucial victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 (match of WI vs NZ) by defeating New Zealand by 13 runs in a tense encounter at Tarouba, Trinidad. Chasing a modest target of 150 runs, the Black Caps fell short despite a valiant effort. With this win the Windies have secured their spot for the next round, however, the Kiwis are out of contention for Super 8.
Batting first, West Indies were off to a shaky start, losing their openers cheaply. However, the hero of the day, Sherfane Rutherford, played a sensational knock of 68 runs off just 39 balls. His inning, laced with 6 sixes and 2 fours, provided much-needed runs to the Windies scorecard.
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Rutherford’s knock was crucial as other batsmen struggled to find their footing. Nicholas Pooran (17) and Akeal Hosein (15) got starts but failed to convert them into big scores. Andre Russell (14) also chipped in with a cameo, but it was Rutherford’s power-hitting that took the Windies to a defendable total of 149 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
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In reply, New Zealand’s chase never quite took off. They lost their openers early, with Finn Allen (26) being the lone bright spark at the top. While wickets fell at regular intervals, New Zealand kept themselves in the contest with contributions from Mitchell Santner (21) and Glenn Phillips (40).
However, the Windies bowlers, led by the impressive Alzarri Joseph (4/19) and Gudakesh Motie (3/25), kept the pressure on. Joseph, with his fiery pace, rattled the New Zealand top order, while Motie’s accurate spin proved difficult to score off. In the end, New Zealand fell short, managing only 136 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their 20 overs.
The victory in the WI vs NZ match strengthens the Windies’ position in Group C. They will be looking to build on this momentum as they progress to the next round of the tournament. For New Zealand, this loss is a setback, but they still have a chance to qualify for the Super 8s stage, but it depends on the other’s result.
The T20 World Cup 2024 is about to enter its next round Super 8. This round is scheduled to start from 19 June. India, West Indies, Australia and South Africa have already qualified for the Super 8 and hence there will be a tough fight for the remaining 4 spot.
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