NZ beat WI in 5th T20I, seal series 3-1: Stats
What's the story
New Zealand defeated West Indies by eight wickets in the fifth and final T20I at University Oval, Dunedin, on Thursday. The victory gave New Zealand a 3-1 series win over their Caribbean rivals. Jacob Duffy was the star of the match, taking four wickets for 35 runs in his four overs. His early strikes reduced West Indies to a precarious position at 21/4 in just three overs. NZ later chased down 141 in 15.4 overs.
Match dynamics
Duffy's early strikes leave WI reeling
Duffy's early wickets included captain Shai Hope, Ackeem Auguste, and Sherfane Rutherford in the third over. His sharp delivery to Auguste knocked off his leg stump. With Rovman Powell's dismissal two balls after the first powerplay, West Indies were reeling at 48/5. Devon Conway took three catches in the innings as New Zealand bowlers exploited a pitch with just enough life for movement with length deliveries.
Game progression
Chase and Shepherd provide some resistance for WI
Roston Chase bolstered the Windies middle order, adding 42 runs along with Jason Holder. However, he was dismissed after scoring 38 off 32 balls. Romario Shepherd then added some runs to West Indies's total with his aggressive knock of 36 from just 22 balls before Duffy returned to dismiss him. The West Indies were eventually bowled out for a total of 140 runs in just under 19 overs.
Series summary
Conway top-scores for NZ as they chase down the target
New Zealand chased down the target with ease, scoring 141 runs for the loss of two wickets in the 16th over. Devon Conway top-scored with an unbeaten 47 while Tim Seifert (45 off 24 balls) and Rachin Ravindra (21) contributed to their innings. Duffy was named Player of the Series for his impressive haul of 10 wickets throughout the series.