Romario Shepherd held his nerve in the final over, saving 20 runs to deny Mitchell Santner’s late fireworks to seal a thrilling seven-run win for West Indies in the opening T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland. It was the lowest total ever successfully defended in a T20I at the venue and gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Santner gave the hosts a real scare, almost pulling off an unlikely chase with a terrifying unbeaten 55 off 28 balls, but the West Indies bowlers held firm when it mattered most. Many felt that the visitors fell short at the halfway point, yet their disciplined bowling turned the game around and sealed a hard-fought victory. It was also New Zealand’s first outing since Kane Williamson’s retirement from T20Is and despite Santner’s heroics, it was little.
New Zealand started brightly through Tim Robinson who looked assured on a surface where most of the batsmen struggled with timing. Matthew Forde impressed for the visitors in the Powerplay with crisp movement and early breakthroughs, while others struggled for consistency early on. Robinson’s dismissal halted New Zealand’s momentum and although they reached 75 for 3 at the halfway point, the chase began to lose steam.
New Zealand vs West Indies 1st T20I: Highlights
Akeal Hosein’s introduction in the 12th over proved decisive. The left-arm winger immediately removed Rachin Ravindra, prompting a collapse in which the required rate quickly increased. The early departure of Daryl Mitchell added to the pressure and with the pitch offering variable bounce, scoring became increasingly difficult for the lower order.
Just when the match appeared to be level, Santner launched a stunning counter-attack, hitting 23 shots from the 18th over and 13 more in the next over to reduce the equation dramatically. But Shepherd’s composure under pressure in the final over – delivering pinpoint yorkers and shuffling his pace smartly – ensured West Indies nail-bited and start the series on a high.
Earlier, after being asked to bat first, West Indies had to quickly adapt from Bangladesh’s slow, low pitches to the livelier surface at Eden Park. The course offered variable pace and bounce, making stroke play difficult and timing inconsistent. Much of the top order found it hard to settle, including captain Shai Hope, who toiled early before finding a semblance of rhythm.
Hope’s dismissal came at a crucial moment, just when he looked set to anchor the innings, but Rovman Powell’s aggressive intent in the final overs gave the innings a much-needed boost. While Roston Chase struggled to turn the strike around at the other end, Powell’s clean strike ensured a strong finish. His late onslaught took West Indies to 164, with 51 runs in the last five overs.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
November 5, 2025
