West Indies vs New Zealand, 26th Match, Group C - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Another big game done in this World Cup. New Zealand who are such a high-performing team in ICC events are on the verge of getting knocked out in the first round. Such is the nature of this format. No mercy shown to anyone. On that note it's time to end our coverage. There's more cricket coming your way though. Keep coming back here for more. Till next time, it's bye bye from all of us here.

Rovman Powell | West Indies captain: I'm very happy, we find ourselves in some trouble?and two guys went deep. We already discussed that somebody had to play a blinder, it was not an easy wicker for the inclement weather. Sherfane's innings was fantastic and gave us confidence?during the innings break. What the New Zealand bowlers tried to do well we tried to replicate. At the halfway mark we sat down and discussed trying to hit a hard length and our spinners to spin the ball. We have got?to use what we have, we don't have fast bowlers like New Zealand. Credit to them (spinners) even with a wet ball, they did well. Such a brilliant night and someone had to stand up and be counted.

Kane Williamson | New Zealand captain: It was good, we had an inkling it would be quite tricky if we hit an area and that proved to be the case. The?quality?of Sherfane's innings was the difference, incredibly impressive and quite frustrating for us. The batting depth from their side was quite beneficial, we took the?aggressive option to take the wicket and T20 is a game of small margins and unfortunately did not work out that way. [on Santner bowling the last over] We know that and we have full trust in that, the guys did?that well in the first 12 overs but as I said it's small margins and two three balls in an over can go big and the score can be above par. You?get the prep and do what you can. Conditions here?are what they are and we can't make excuses. We need to keep getting?better and keep finding a way, 10-15 runs that can make a big?difference. We need to bounce back quickly, we are back in two days, we need to be smarter. The learnings are important and we need to pick ourselves up and go again.

Stats by Roshan Gede

Longest winning streaks for WI in T20 World Cups
3 in 2012 (Champions)
3 in 2014 (Semi-finalists)
3 in 2016 (Champions)
3* in 2024

Rutherford and Motie added 37* for the 10th wicket earlier today, a record last-wicket stand in the Men's T20 World Cup. This is just the fourth instance of the highest partnership in a Men's T20I (both innings combined) coming for the 10th wicket, the first in T20 World Cups.

The only previous instance of a team winning a T20 WC game after losing their first five wickets for 30 runs or below was Uganda vs PNG in Guyana last week (26/5 in a run-chase of 78).

This was just the second win in eight completed T20Is for West Indies against New Zealand since 2017.

New Zealand have now lost three consecutive matches in T20 World Cups including the 2022 semifinal against Pakistan. It’s their second longest losing streak in the competition; they had lost four on the bounce in 2012, two of which were Super Over finishes.

WI bowlers with 4-fers in T20 WC
5/11 - Akeal Hosein vs UGA, Guyana, 2024
4/15 - Samuel Badree vs BAN, Mirpur, 2014
4/16 - Alzarri Joseph vs ZIM, Hobart, 2022
4/19 - Lendl Simmons vs SL, Nottingham, 2009
4/19 - Alzarri Joseph vs NZ, Tarouba, 2024
4/38 - Dwayne Bravo vs IND, Lord’s, 2009

Spinners today
NZ: 1/36 in 3 overs (ER: 12)
WI: 4/50 in 9 overs (ER: 5.5)

Sherfane Rutherford | PoTM: Want to thank God for the opportunity. I was in IPL for two months. I was preparing even though I wasn't playing. I was preparing for this. To take it deep was the plan. Me and (Daren) Sammy had a talk. We spoke of taking it deep and just keep rotating the strike as I can make up for it later on. (On his strategy for the last two overs where he scored 37 runs) Looking at their bowling lineup I knew they were short of two overs and I was telling myself to take it deep. Wanted to maximise on those overs. That was the plan and I think it did that well. Hopefully the start of something to come. I will have chicken curry for tonight.

00:10 Local Time, 04:10 GMT, 09:40 IST: West Indies are through to the Super Eights and New Zealand's chances now hang by the slimmest of threads. The last two overs of their batting innings changed all the momentum and West Indies rode on that with fine bowling and fielding to back it up. The close-in fielders showed their desperation as they were on their toes to cut off anything and barring Charles the others did not mess up with their catching. Allen looked dangerous but holed out and the West Indies bowlers hunted as a pack with Joseph and Motie leading the way. The big wicket of Williamson was taken cheaply and barring Phillips who fought and Santner at the end, the others were a disappointment. The pitch was not the easiest and one had to show application and technique to make their runs. The lack of a big partnership hurt New Zealand and if not for those big blows from Santner in the last over, the margin of defeat would have been much more. The crowd really played a part too for they lifted West Indies who fed off that energy. New Zealand bossed the game till the 18th over in the first innings and would be really disappointed at losing this one. Stay tuned for the presentation....

Shepherd to Santner, 1 run, slower ball off-cutter outside off, Santner drags the pull off a thick inside-edge to mid-wicket and for formality sake he runs the single. West Indies win by 13

Shepherd to Santner, no run, slower ball off-cutter outside off, Santner tries to loft over extra-cover and misses. Powell is fist-pumping already

Shepherd to Santner, SIX, third six of the over. A slower ball off-cutter on a good length outside off, Santner gets forward to loft on the rise, Powell at long-on is just a spectator

Shepherd to Santner, no run, Shepherd changes to round the wicket, slower ball off-cutter outside off, Santner leaning back mistimes the hoick to mid-wicket. A dot and that's the game done if not for any extras from here

21 off 4, can the improbable happen?

Shepherd to Santner, SIX, consecutive sixes. A hard back of a length delivery on the stumps, Santner heaves with the angle and it goes all the way over deep square leg

M K OWASI: WI with this win will qualify for Super 8s.

Shepherd to Santner, SIX, brilliant shot but too little too late. Full and wide outside off, languid golf-swing from Santner who loves golf as much as he does cricket. The ball sails away over deep extra-cover. Typical left-hander's grace and poise