• By Namrata Vijay
  • Thu, 13 Jun 2024 11:27 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND

WI vs NZ, 2024 T20 World Cup: West Indies have qualified for the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup after defeating New Zealand by 13 runs on Thursday. West Indies have also become the table toppers after winning three consecutive matches.  

At the same time, New Zealand is lying in the last position in the points table and is on the cusp of getting eliminated from the tournament. They would now hope that Uganda will defeat Afghanistan by a huge margin on Saturday, June 15.  

While batting first, the Rovman Powell-led side suffered a batting collapse. They were reeling at 23/4 inside the powerplay. Nicholas Pooran fought a lone batter as he was the only one who could score 17 runs and took the New Zealand bowlers from the get-go during the powerplay. He also broke Chris Gayle’s record of being the highest run-getter for West Indies in the shortest format.  

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Tim Southee dismissed Pooran as he tried to play an agricultural swipe. Southee, Trent Boult, and Lockie Ferguson rattled the West Indies batting lineup. But then Sherfane Rutherford helped them bounce back by posting a respectable target of 149/9.  
 
Rutherford stayed till the end and scored a match-winning knock of 68 runs off 39 balls, in which he had smashed two fours and six sixes. He ensured that his team returned to the game by scoring 37 runs in the last two overs. Akeal Hossein and Andre Rusell made significant contributions with the bat as well.  
 
Trent Boult was the pick among the New Zealand bowlers as he registered figures of 4-1-16-3. Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson took two wickets each.  
 
Motie, Joseph makes New Zealand struggle  
 
The Kane Williamson-led side struggled while chasing the target and were reduced to 139/9. Finn Allen was their highest run-scorer as he scored 26 runs off 23 balls, in which he had smashed three fours and a six but then Alzarri Joseph took his wicket. Joseph dismissed Southee, Glenn Phillips, and Jimmy Neesham and registered figures of 4-0-19-4. 
 
Gudakesh Motie also took three wickets and conceded 25 runs. The West Indies bowlers never allowed the New Zealand batters to settle in.  
 
Glenn Phillips scored a gritty knock of 40 runs and was looking in sublime form. They needed 33 runs in the last over to win the match and that's when Mitchell Santner smashed Romario Shepherd for three consecutive sixes, but his efforts went in vain, and New Zealand lost the match.