The West Indies must win the final T20 International in Dunedin on Thursday to level the series against New Zealand, after Monday’s fourth match at Saxton Oval was abandoned due to persistent rain.
Only 6.3 overs were bowled before the weather took hold, with the Windies at 38 for one when play was halted. Despite hopes for a resumption, conditions never improved enough for a return to the field.
With the Black Caps leading the five-match series 2-1, all eyes now turn to the final showdown.
The drama leading up to this decider was punctuated by a nail-biting third T20 on November 8, also held at Saxton Oval. In front of a packed crowd, the Windies once again came agonizingly close, falling short in the final over.
The Men in Maroon were sent in to bat first. The Black Caps capitalised on their decision to bat, reaching a solid 47-1 at the end of the powerplay and 96-1 at the halfway mark. Devon Conway’s 56 and Daryl Mitchell’s 41 powered the Blackcaps to a competitive total of 177 from their 20 overs.
It could have been worse for the Windies had it not been for economical bowling from Barbadian Matthew Forde, who claimed 2 wickets for just 20 runs.
In response, the Windies lost two early wickets in the powerplay, finishing the first six overs at 46-2. A dramatic collapse followed, leaving them in dire straits at 88-8, with Alick Athanaze’s 31-run effort the only notable contribution at that stage.
However, the game was far from over. A resilient ninth-wicket partnership between Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer brought the visitors back into contention. Their 78-run stand carried the match to 18.5 overs, where Springer was dismissed by a remarkable catch from Jacob Duffy off his own bowling. Needing 12 runs from the final over, the Windies ultimately fell short by nine runs.
With the fourth match washed out, the fifth and final game will decide the fate of the series. Will the Windies rally to level, or will the Black Caps clinch it at home?
