KINGSTON: Kane Williamson shone with a solid 47-run knock on his return as Black Caps captain with Jimmy Neesham blasting 33 off 15 down the order while Mitchell Santner bagged three wickets to aid New Zealand edge past West Indies by 13 runs in the opening encounter of three-match T20I series, here on Wednesday.
Set to chase a respectable target of 186, West Indies’ top-order put up a dismal show losing four wickets for 49 in the 7th over. A resounding knock of 42 off 43 by opener Shamarh Brooks and late retaliation by the lower order proved insignificant for the Windies to get past the finishing line.
All-rounder Jason Holder and Rovman Powell scored 25 off 19 and 18 off 12 respectively, before Romario Shepherd (31*) and Odean Smith (27*) combined excellently and entertained the crowd till the bast with their powerful hits.
New Zealand, however, restricted the West Indies on 172/7 in their 20 overs on the back of phenomenal figures of 3/19 by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner while Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi and Lockie Ferguson claimed a wicket each.
Earlier after being put to bat, Black Caps went for a solid start with a 62-run opening stand by Martin Guptill (!6) and Devon Conway (43) before right-arm pacer Smith struck twice in the eighth over to get rid of both the openers.
Skipper Williamson then led the charge for Kiwis before Neesham played a late cameo laced with three fours and two sixes to reach the comprehensive total of 185/5 in the first innings.
For West Indies, Odean Smith remained the topped the bowling sheet with his 3/32 while Holder and Obed McCoy took wicket apiece.
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