West Indies Beat New Zealand By Two Wickets Despite Losing ODI Series
The West Indies ended their five match One Day International series against New Zealand on a high after edging the visitors by two wickets in a tense finale, although New Zealand still walked away with a 3-2 series victory.
Playing at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, New Zealand posted a competitive total after recovering from early setbacks, with contributions throughout the batting order helping the tourists set a challenging target. West Indies responded positively but regularly lost wickets, leaving the outcome uncertain until the closing stages of the innings.
The hosts were guided home by Shimron Hetmyer, who produced an unbeaten 69 under pressure. His composed innings proved decisive as West Indies reached the target with 15 balls remaining, sealing a dramatic victory in front of their home supporters.
Despite the defeat, New Zealand had already secured the series after winning the previous three matches, including a thrilling one wicket victory in the fourth ODI that gave them an unassailable 3-1 lead. The Black Caps therefore finished the tour with a 3-2 series triumph.
The victory provided a welcome boost for the West Indies after inconsistent performances throughout the series. Their batting struggled in several of the earlier matches, but the successful chase in the final ODI demonstrated the resilience and attacking intent that had been missing during much of the contest.
For New Zealand, the series reinforced the depth of their limited overs squad. The tourists produced disciplined bowling performances and consistently found match winners throughout the five game contest, helping them secure another overseas ODI series victory.
Both teams will now shift their focus to upcoming international assignments, with the West Indies looking to build on the confidence gained from the final match, while New Zealand will take encouragement from another successful overseas campaign.
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