West Indies were teetering at 76-7 at one stage after a new-ball burst from Trent Boult (3-16) and Tim Southee (2-21), but an unbeaten 39-ball 68 from Sherfane Rutherford took them to a respectable total.

Having bowled out their frontline bowlers in an attempt to bowl out the opposition, New Zealand had to depend on Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner to bowl final overs. Against Mitchell in the 19th over, Rutherford batting then on 31 off 27 with West Indies at 112-9, teed off: he hit three sixes to take 19 from the penultimate over. A single off the last ball meant Rutherford would keep the strike in the last over.

Facing Santer in the 20th over, Rutherford hit two fours and a six to churn out 19 runs to power West Indies to 131-9.

Never back down, never give in!💪🏽

Defiance in the 1st innings from Sherfane Rutherford!#WIREADY #T20WorldCup #WIvNZ pic.twitter.com/6BPHHWR9ss

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) June 13, 2024

In reply, New Zealand could only manage 136-9. Akeal Hosein, opening the bowling, gave the hosts their first breakthrough in the third over when Devon Conway (5) was caught at fine leg while trying to sweep. Then Alzarri Joseph sent Finn Allen packing for a 23-ball 26 in the last over of the powerplay, with New Zealand scoring 36-2.

Akeal Hosein (1-21) was not the only left-arm spinner who made life difficult for the New Zealand batters at the crease as Gudakesh Motie’s (3-25) neutralised the chasing team’s three, four, and five cheaply.

Glenn Phillips (40 off 33) looked a glimmer of hope for the ‘Blackcaps’, but Joseph dismissed him off the fourth ball of the 18th over to thwart any comeback. With 33 needing in the final over, Santner struck three sixes in the first four balls. However, it was too little an effort as New Zealand finished their innings for 136-9.

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