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Co-hosts West Indies secured their Super 8 qualification by taking down New Zealand by a margin of 14 runs in the 26th clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The sides clashed at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad where the home team continued their dominance to put the Kiwi rivals in danger zone. The game saw New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson winning the toss and inviting the opponents to bat first.
The Black Caps, who headed into the game on the back of a heavy 84-run defeat against the Afghans, started off on a favourable note. The home team seemed to have lost the momentum and saw Johnson Charles and Brandon King returning to pavilion on duck and nine runs, respectively. Rovman Powell and Co. were reduced to 58/6 and just when Akeal Hosein tried to give the side some stability, James Neesham caught him out off a Mitchell Santner delivery.
The game nearly slipped away from the two-time T20 World Cup champions when Sherfane Rutherford took the steering in his hands and went all guns blazing on the Kiwi bowlers. Rutherford came up with a crucial 68*-run knock in just 39 deliveries to help the side post 149 for nine wickets.
In return, Kane Williamson and Co. started off poorly while losing Devon Conway on five runs from eight deliveries. While Glenn Phillips tried to give the side some stability with his 40 off 33, Alzarri Joseph’s four-wicket haul restricted them at 136 runs for nine wickets.
