T20 World Cup: West Indies into Super Eight, winless New Zealand face early exit – Times of India

NEW DELHI: New Zealand’s hopes of advancing to the Super Eight stage in the ongoing T20 World Cup were in jeopardy after a 13-run defeat against the West Indies in Trinidad on Thursday. The co-hosts, who have now won their first three matches, became the fourth team to qualify for the next round.

The other three teams already qualified for the Super Eights are – India, Australia and South Africa.

As it happened: West Indies vs New Zealand

Batting first, the West Indies found themselves in a precarious position at 30 for five in the seventh over. However, Sherfane Rutherford’s scintillating unbeaten 68 off just 39 deliveries, which included two fours and six sixes, propelled the home side to a respectable total of 149 for nine.

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In response, the Black Caps, who were thrashed by Afghanistan in their opening match, struggled to gain any momentum in their chase. The Kiwis were restricted to 136 for nine, with only Glenn Phillips (40 off 33 balls) posing any significant threat to the West Indies’ bowling attack.

The West Indies’ bowlers were instrumental in securing the victory, with pacer Alzarri Joseph claiming four wickets for 19 runs, while spinners Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein picked up three and one wickets, respectively.



Despite Mitchell Santner’s late heroics, smashing three sixes off Romario Shepherd in the final over, the match was effectively over as a contest when Phillips fell to Joseph in the 18th over.

The defeat leaves New Zealand’s fate hanging by a thread, with their elimination from the tournament confirmed if Afghanistan defeat Papua New Guinea on Friday. The West Indies, on the other hand, have clinched their place in the Super Eight phase with one group match still to come against Afghanistan on Monday in St Lucia.