1st T20I: Mitchell Santner, Jimmy Neesham star as New Zealand beat West Indies to take 1-0 sequence lead

Jimmy Neesham, Kane Williamson and Mitchell Santner starred for New Zealand because the vacationers registered a 13-run win over West Indies to take a 1-0 lead within the first T20I of the three-match sequence at Sabina Park on Wednesday.

Neesham struck three fours from the final three balls and 23 runs from the final over of the innings as New Zealand made 185/5. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner took 3/19 as New Zealand restricted the West Indies to 172/7 in 20 overs.

Mitchell Santner’s 3/19 helps New Zealand take a 1-0 lead within the T20I sequence #WIvNZ | Scorecard: https://t.co/df0FW775r9 pic.twitter.com/EkpDcPsFEV

— ICC (@ICC) August 10, 2022

“There was a lot of spins, which was a big surprise,” stated Santner, who was voted participant of the match. “I think the lengths are key against these guys. They can hit you pretty far, so the back of a length worked today and, as a unit, we were able to pick up wickets, which was pretty key.”

New Zealand’s innings had two components, separated by a prolonged rain break. Openers Martin Guptill and Devon Conway gave the vacationers a robust begin, placing on 63 for the primary wicket. But the pair fell to consecutive deliveries from Odean Smith, who went on to take career-best T20 figures of three/32.

Guptill fell to an excellent one-handed catch by Shimron Hetmeyer, who was backed up towards the boundary at a deep level, whereas Conway’s innings of 43 from 29 ended when he top-edged a catch to wicketkeeper Devon Thomas.

The rain got here within the twelfth over with New Zealand on 95/2 and Williamson on the crease with Glenn Phillips. Players have been off the sphere for nearly two hours and when play resumed New Zealand instantly misplaced Phillips for 17.

The New Zealand innings briefly misplaced momentum however Williamson re-established the impetus of the innings by taking 33 runs from his subsequent 18 deliveries. He lastly was out to a different sensible catch on the boundary, this time from Hayden Walsh, who dashed from mid-wicket to pocket a cushty catch at velocity.

Neesham struck a six from the second ball of an over by which he additionally was dropped by Romario Shepherd from the bowling of Jason Holder. The West Indies paid the value with Neesham’s three fours from the final three balls.

“We want to get better as a group but in saying that I was happy with the performances,” West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran stated. “Santner bowled very well and Ish (Sodhi) got away with a few.

“Scores above 175-180 are tricky for us. Unfortunately losing is contagious and we’re the losing side at the moment.”

— ENDS —