HIGHLIGHTS New Zealand vs West Indies, West Indies in New Zealand 5 T20I Series 2025, 1st T20- Result, Scorecard

Welcome back for New Zealand's reply with the bat. Devon Conway and Tim Robinson walk out to open for the Blackcaps. The players of West Indies spread out to take their fielding positions. Jayden Seales has the new ball and is raring to go. Robinson to face. Off we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Well then, 165 is the magic number for New Zealand to chase and take an early lead in the series. For that, they need a stable start against the new ball. Devon Conway hasn't been in good form lately and if West Indies manage to exploit the conditions well and get a couple of wickets inside the Powerplay, they could really dent through their batting order. But it all depends on who wins the execution battle here at Eden Park, as batting under the lights gets a bit easy. Won't be an easy job for the visitors against a power-packed batting lineup of New Zealand. Back in a bit for the chase.

New Zealand's Jacob Duffy is in for a chat with the broadcasters. He says he’s happy with his effort and 164 is a total they would have taken at the start of the game. Believes that the wicket is a bit two-paced and some balls were holding in the surface. Reckons that they bowled well as a unit and made it hard for West Indies to score.

New Zealand were spot on to exploit the conditions. With the new ball, they threw a trial by pace, and once the ball got older, cutters and spin variations were unleashed to near-perfection in that middle phase, which made timing the ball really tricky. However, they were a bit sloppy in the field as several chances were shelled. Chase and Powell worked hard towards the backend, with the latter being the heavy lifter in that 49-run partnership. But they lost both of them in no time as West Indies slipped from 146/4 to 148/6. But thanks to their contributions and the lower order stepping up, they still managed to score 51 runs off the last five overs.

The schedule in international cricket shows no mercy. Just a few moons back, West Indies were battling on low, slow tracks in Bangladesh, where the ball barely got above shin height. Now they've landed in New Zealand, where the same delivery rears up chest-high. It's a brutal adjustment to make in such a short turnaround. It was Shai Hope, the only batter who looked assured with that adjustment, and he went on to score a classy fifty and formed a much-needed partnership with Chase before perishing.

When in New Zealand, the ball skids, jagging sideways with a sharp bounce to keep the batters honest. Brandon King struggled to get going, while Alick Athanaze looked fluent with a couple of crisp boundaries before throwing it away. The early movement and extra bounce proved too much for the West Indies openers to handle. New Zealand's pace attack was clinical in their execution, keeping things tight and picking up crucial wickets to peg the visitors back to 32/2 at the end of the Powerplay.

West Indies will be quite happy with the kind of finish they got. Honestly, they were way behind the eight ball in the Powerplay, but have made a good comeback to post a total which is in touching distance of the average first inning score at Eden Park. New Zealand bowled well for 80 percent of the innings, but won't be pleased with the death bowling. They dropped a few chances, missed a couple of run out chances that really might have dented the scoring even further.

Kyle Jamieson to Romario Shepherd, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries to end the innings! Kyle Jamieson goes searching for the yorker but ends up serving a low full toss, on the pads. Shepherd gets low and swats it away towards the vacant deep backward square leg region for four more. 11 runs off the final over. Windies finish with 164 on the board!

Kyle Jamieson to Romario Shepherd, FOUR! Up and over! Kyle Jamieson errs in line as he slides on the pads with the leg-cutter, full in length. Romario Shepherd does not miss out as he picks it up and over the short fine leg fielder. The ball bounces just in front of the boundary cushions.

Kyle Jamieson to Jason Holder, Tight single! Very full from Kyle, on off, Holder squeezes it out in front of extra cover. Daryl Mitchell, on the edge of the ring, picks the ball up but fails to knock down the stumps at the bowling end. It would have been interesting had the throw hit.

Kyle Jamieson to Jason Holder, On a short of a length, outside off, Jason Holder does not pick the slower one this time and swings early. As a result, he misses.

Kyle Jamieson to Jason Holder, Wide! A slower bumper from Kyle Jamieson, outside off. Jason Holder stands with an open stance and leaves the ball alone. The ball sails over his head for a wide. Jamieson is not pleased with the wide call.

Kyle Jamieson to Jason Holder, Nails the yorker at the base of the middle stump. Jason Holder can only dig it out down the deck.

Kyle Jamieson to Romario Shepherd, Low full toss, on middle and leg, clipped to deep square leg for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Jason Holder, FOUR! A good end to the over for West Indies! Pace off and on a back of a length, on off. Jason Holder picks the change of pace and waits for the ball to arrive. Pumps it back over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Zakary Foulkes to Romario Shepherd, Leg bye! Sprayed on the pads, on a good length. Romario Shepherd swipes across the line but misses. The ball goes away on the off side off his pads for a leg bye.

Zakary Foulkes to Romario Shepherd, Zakary Foulkes goes into the surface again, over middle. Romario Shepherd heaves across the line but does not connect.

Romario Shepherd is in at number 8.

Zakary Foulkes to Rovman Powell, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Zakary Foulkes gets the prized scalp! This will make a real difference in the final score. With an upright seam, Foulkes digs it short and Powell is denied the room to free his hands. Rovman swivels and swings across for the pull but the ball skids through and rises on its way to the batter. It grazes the outside edge and the keeper, Devon Conway leaps to take the catch over his head. Rovman Powell departs for a breezy 33 (23) and from 146/4, West Indies have slipped down to 148/6.

Zakary Foulkes to Jason Holder, Tucking the batter up for room, on a back of a length, at the hips. Jason Holder is beaten on the inside edge and the ball comes off the pads. It drops beside the strip on the leg side for a leg bye.

Zakary Foulkes to Rovman Powell, Leg bye! A loud shout for LBW but that is going down leg. On a length, slanting into the right-hander, Rovman stays back to work it away on the leg side but is beaten on the inside edge. Gets rapped on the front pad and a leg bye is taken as the ball dribbles away on the off side.

The towering Jason Holder walks in at number 7. Zakary Foulkes (3-0-31-1) to bowl the penultimate over.

Jacob Duffy to Roston Chase, OUT! TIMBER! End of a scratchy stay for Roston Chase! On the fuller side, angled into the right-hander. Chase shuffles across his stumps to scoop it over short fine leg but misses it completely. The ball goes past the bat to clatter into the leg stump. Roston admonishes himself and swings his bat in frustration as he trudges off after making 28 (27). West Indies are 146/5 and Jacob Duffy ends his highly testing spell with figures of 4-0-19-2.

Jacob Duffy to Roston Chase, FOUR! Helped away! On a hard length, angled in at the hips, Roston Chase is a bit late on the shot as he swivels. Manages to lay some bat on it and beats the keeper to his left for a boundary.

Jacob Duffy to Rovman Powell, On a fullish length, on middle. Powell digs it out to long on for a single.

Jacob Duffy to Rovman Powell, WIDE! Miles outside off, on a fuller length, beyond the tramline. Powell lets it be. Wide called.

Jacob Duffy to Rovman Powell, Not given wide! That's a bit surprising. This skids through, on a shortish length, around the left shoulder. Rovman Powell pivots for the pull but misses. Since Powell had taken a step across, the umpire thought that it would have hit him had he been in his normal standing position.

Jacob Duffy to Rovman Powell, Wide! Slower ball attempted, but this goes beyond the tramline on off.

Jacob Duffy to Roston Chase, Very full, on off, turned away through square leg for a single.

Jacob Duffy to Rovman Powell, Full and on off, Rovman Powell smashes it to long on for a single.

Jacob Duffy (3-0-10-1) is back on for the final over of his spell.

Kyle Jamieson to Rovman Powell, DROPPED! The ball went a long way up, but that should have been taken. On a length, on middle. Rovman clears the front leg and swings with all his might. It is hit to the long pocket in the deep mid-wicket region. Michael Bracewell settles under it and has almost too much time. The ball goes in and out of his grasp. A single taken. How costly will this drop prove to be?

Kyle Jamieson to Rovman Powell, FOUR! Gets it away! Kyle Jamieson serves the leg-cutter but gets the line wrong. This is angled at the hips. Rovman Powell swings to work it behind square on the leg side. Gets enough bat on it to beat Rachin Ravindra at short fine leg to his left. Rachin gives a chase but the ball wins the race.

Kyle Jamieson to Rovman Powell, Wide! A sharp and quick bumper around the right shoulder. Rovman Powell swivels for the pull but is beaten for pace and the ball climbs onto him. Given as wide for height. Kyle Jamieson looks quizzically at the square leg umpire.

Kyle Jamieson to Rovman Powell, Pitched up, on off, Rovman Powell is unable to get under the ball and drills it along the ground to mid off.

Kyle Jamieson to Roston Chase, Leg bye! Full and drifting onto the pads, there to be put away with fine leg inside the circle. Chase misses out and the ball clips his pads. The ball rolls away for a leg bye. It's been that kind of a night so far for Chase.

Kyle Jamieson to Rovman Powell, Rolls his fingers on the ball once again, does Jamieson. On a good length, on middle. Rovman nurdles it through square leg for one more.

Kyle Jamieson to Roston Chase, This is bowled into the surface, pace taken off, on middle. Roston pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Mitchell Santner to Rovman Powell, CHANCE! That would have been a spectacular grab! Closer to the off stump, full in length, Rovman Powell gets down on a knee and clubs it flat towards long on. Michael Bracewell moves to his right and flings himself towards the ball. Sticks out his right hand but the ball does not stick in his grasp. It is palmed away to his right, and the batters pick up a couple. A productive over for West Indies. 15 runs off it.

Mitchell Santner to Rovman Powell, Wide! And again, Mitchell Santner is not happy with the call though. Looped up, but this once again goes beyond the tramline on off. Powell lets it be.

Mitchell Santner to Rovman Powell, Wide! Tries to keep it away from the batter's arc and it is tossed up. It slips beyond the tramline on off.

Mitchell Santner to Roston Chase, Low full toss, outside off, knocked to long on for a single.

Mitchell Santner to Rovman Powell, This is fuller and quicker, on off, Powell taps it in front of point and scampers to the other end. The throw goes to the bowling end, where Rovman is safe. Had the throw gone to the batting end, it could have been interesting.

Mitchell Santner to Rovman Powell, Santner hangs it up there and this is wider on off but the length stays short. Rovman Powell reaches out but slices the shot to the right of deep cover for a couple.

Mitchell Santner to Rovman Powell, SIX! Hit hard and long enough! This is dropped short by Santner from around the wicket, on middle. Powell is quick to rock on the back foot and make use of the depth of the crease. Thumps it over long on for a six.

Mitchell Santner to Roston Chase, Short and around off, Chase glides it with an open bat face to the left of backward point. He gets called through for a quick single by Powell.

Zakary Foulkes to Rovman Powell, SIX! Clean hit! Zakary Foulkes misses his length and slips in a low full toss, on off. Rovman Powell waits for it and blasts it straight down the ground for a flat six. That was six the moment he hit it.

Zakary Foulkes to Roston Chase, On a length, around off, Chase looks to flick, but gets an inside edge onto the pads before the ball rolls wide of point for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Roston Chase, Oh, almost chopped on! Pace taken off, on a good length, cutting back into the batter from outside off. Roston Chase barely moves his feet and tries to punch it on the up to the off side, but gets a thick inside edge that rolls past the stumps to the leg side.

Zakary Foulkes to Rovman Powell, Now nails the yorker, does Zakary Foulkes. On the middle and leg stump line. Rovman Powell is bent but manages to squeeze it down to the mid on region for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Rovman Powell, A surprise bumper from Zakary, on the bodyline. Rovman Powell initially shapes to pull, but decides to duck underneath it.

Zakary Foulkes to Rovman Powell, FOUR! Splits the gap! Around off, on a fuller length. Rovman Powell tries to heave it, but gets it off the inner half of the bat, but manages to bisect the deep mid-wicket and long on fielders for a boundary.

James Neesham to Rovman Powell, Into the blockhole, on middle, Rovman Powell shovels it out through mid off for a single. A very tidy over from Neesham.

James Neesham to Roston Chase, On a fuller length, angling into the batter at a gentle pace. Roston Chase tries to flick but gets an inside edge. The ball deflects off his boot and rolls to short fine leg. 100 UP FOR WEST INDIES!

James Neesham to Roston Chase, A juicy full toss, outside off, Roston Chase smashes it away, but finds the fielder at extra cover.

James Neesham to Rovman Powell, Length ball, angling on the leg stump. Rovman Powell stands tall and pulls it to deep backward square leg for a single.

James Neesham to Rovman Powell, CHANCE? Certainly. A missed opportunity from Neesham, but by no means was it an easy one. On a fullish length, slightly outside off. Rovman Powell drills it flat and straight back to Neesham. He does get his body behind it, but because he has very little time to react to grab it, he ends up putting it down and the ball rolls to mid off.

James Neesham to Rovman Powell, Hard length, around off, crisply punched off the back foot to cover.

Zakary Foulkes to Roston Chase, A snorter! Back of a length, skidding off the deck, outside off. Roston Chase is rushed on the back foot, and slashes at the delivery, but fails to get bat on the ball.

Zakary Foulkes to Rovman Powell, Hard length, on off, worked off the back foot wide of extra cover for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Rovman Powell, That was gone as well, but Powell can breathe for now. Rovman guides the length ball to the short third region and just sets off for a single. Chase sends him back on a sharp call as the fielder from backward point is quick to get to the ball. However, he misses his shy at the striker's end and this allows Powell to get back in.

Rovman Powell walks out to bat.

Zakary Foulkes to Shai Hope, OUT! BOWLED! Fifty and out for Shai Hope as Zakary Foulkes strikes big. A leg cutter by the looks of it, on a good length, angling on the leg stump line. Shai Hope lines up for a pull shot, but the line is a bit too close to the body to execute that shot. Hence, he misses to connect and the ball stays low, and beats the inside edge to smash into the leg stump. Shai Hope departs for 53 (39) and West Indies are 97/4.

Zakary Foulkes to Shai Hope, SIX! FIFTY FOR SHAI HOPE! He has truly kept the hopes alive for his side for a big score. His 9th T20I half century, and back-to-back fifties for him. He scored a 55 in the second T20I against Bangladesh as well. Hits the length hard, does Zakary, on off. Shai Hope stands tall and muscles it flatly over wide long off for a cracking six. Might now look to cut loose from here on and change the gears to go big.

Zakary Foulkes to Shai Hope, Nagging length, skidding through the deck, around off. Shai Hope tries to heave it across the line, but gets a thick inside edge onto the body.

Zakary Foulkes to Shai Hope, WIDE! Oh, he has missed the radar by a long, long way. Zakary Foulkes tries the back-of-the-hand slower ball, but it goes drastically wrong as he drops it short, but way down leg. Shai Hope shapes for a scoop shot, but lets it be. Wide called.

Zakary Foulkes is back into the attack. Went for 11 runs in his first over.

Mitchell Santner to Shai Hope, Miles outside off, on a length, Shai Hope liberates his arms and slashes it to deep extra cover for a single.

Mitchell Santner to Shai Hope, An in-drifter on a fullish length, Shai Hope tries to slog it over the leg side, but fails to do so. Gets a thick inside edge and the ball rolls behind to short fine leg.

Mitchell Santner to Shai Hope, SIX! BLUDGEONED! Not too full, not too short, outside off. Enough width for Hope as he stands tall and smashes it straight down the ground for a huge six.

Mitchell Santner to Roston Chase, Touch full, on off, flicked away to wide long on for a single.

Mitchell Santner to Roston Chase, High up but safe! Santner cunningly offers no pace and lands it wide on off, on a fuller length, forcing the batter to reach for it. Roston Chase lofts it with no timing whatsoever, over extra cover, but the ball lands safely in the deep. A couple of runs taken.

Mitchell Santner to Roston Chase, No timing whatsoever! Fractionally fuller, outside off, Roston Chase reaches out for it and slices it uppishly, but to the right of backward point for a couple of runs.

Rachin Ravindra to Shai Hope, Hope misses out! Short and wide, there to be put away, Shai hammers it straight to cover.

Rachin Ravindra to Shai Hope, SIX! Tonked! Fractionally short, on off, Shai is quick to rock on the back foot and powers it with a horizontal bat over the bowler's head. Gets enough bat on it to clear the fence and collect a six.

Rachin Ravindra to Roston Chase, More than half a shout for LBW but turned down! Had there been DRS, New Zealand would have most certainly reviewed. This looked close. Around the off stump, on a nagging length. Chase walks inside the line for the paddle but misses. Gets hit around the back hip and the ball rolls away towards short fine leg for a leg bye. It appears that the umpire reckoned the impact was outside the line.

Rachin Ravindra to Roston Chase, Fuller ball, around off, Roston Chase mistimes it in the air, but the ball lands safely in the deep extra cover region. A couple of runs taken as Tim Robinson mops it up from sweeper cover.

Rachin Ravindra to Roston Chase, Around off, on a length, Roston Chase drags it between deep mid-wicket and long on for a couple of runs. Almost splits the two fielders, but it is cut off by the converging deep mid-wicket fielder to his left. Two taken.

Rachin Ravindra to Shai Hope, On a length, on off, Shai Hope hangs back and punches it to down to long on for a single.

Halfway into the first innings and DRINKS has been taken. A bit productive for the visitors, as West Indies have scored 34 runs in the last 4 overs. Shai Hope has scored half the runs so far and is the only batter who has looked assured at the crease. The run rate is still hovering above just a run-a-ball, and these two batters will aim to bat deep while the Kiwis would want to get Hope out as soon as possible to completely strangle down the opposition. Here's Rachin Ravindra into the attack after the hydration break.

Mitchell Santner to Shai Hope, Direct hit! Santner spears it in, short and on off, Shai Hope slaps it down the ground. He fails to get the desired elevation and hits it on the bounce to long on. Michael Bracewell opts not to go for the catch and lets the ball bounce in front of him. He collects and fires in a throw at the bowling end. Bracewell scores a direct hit and it is referred upstairs by the umpire just to be sure. Shai has slid his bat inside the crease and is safe.

Mitchell Santner to Roston Chase, Fired in by Santner on the shorter side, on middle. Chase nudges it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Mitchell Santner to Roston Chase, SIX! Lovely shot! A floater from the Kiwi skipper, full and on off. Roston Chase backs away and holds his shape. With a high elbow, he goes inside out over cover for a six.

Mitchell Santner to Roston Chase, Looped up by Santner, slower, outside off. Roston Chase takes a step across the stumps and gets low to drag the sweep but misses. The ball turns away to beat him.

Mitchell Santner to Roston Chase, Short again but this is a bit quicker, on off, Chase taps it to cover.

Mitchell Santner to Shai Hope, Flat and short, on off, punched to deep cover for a single.

James Neesham to Shai Hope, Nice and full, at the sticks, Shai Hope backs away to go through the off side. Ends up squeezing it out off the inner half to long on for one.

James Neesham to Shai Hope, Two is the call and they get it! On a short of a length, on off. Hope picks the leg cutter and waits for the ball to arrive. Places it with soft hands in front of deep mid-wicket and comes charging back for the second.

James Neesham to Shai Hope, FOUR! Slapped! Fractionally short with an upright seam, on the off stump. Hope sets up with an open stance and flat bats it to the right of long on for a one-bounce boundary.

James Neesham to Roston Chase, Pace off, on a good length, on middle. Chase tamely pushes it in front of long on for a single. 50 UP FOR WEST INDIES!

James Neesham to Roston Chase, Nearly dragged on! On top of off by Neesham, Chase looks to defend it late and under his eyes. Plays it with an angled bat and the ball catches the inside edge to drop at his feet.

James Neesham to Shai Hope, Delivers it on a hard length, on off, Hope drops it beside the strip on the leg side. Neesham moves across to his right and dives but fails to make the stop. The batters cross for one.

Mitchell Santner to Roston Chase, Oh, my word! This is fizzed towards the right-hander from around the wicket, short and over off. Roston Chase hangs back to deal with it, but the ball kicks up and rips past the outside edge.

Mitchell Santner to Shai Hope, Darted in by Santner, short and on middle, worked through mid-wicket for one.

Mitchell Santner to Roston Chase, Leg bye! Another one that is bowled with a flatter trajectory, on a nagging length, outside off. Roston Chase gets down on a knee and is across the stumps. Tries to play the lap but fails to lay any bat on it. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the pads in front of short third.

Mitchell Santner to Shai Hope, Bowled from wide of the crease and it is pushed through. Short and on leg, Shai tucks it in front of deep square leg for one.

Mitchell Santner to Roston Chase, Slows it down a touch and tosses it up, fuller and on off. Roston Chase is through his shot early and chips it to the right of cover for a single.

Mitchell Santner to Shai Hope, Speared in from around the wicket, short and on middle. Hope nudges it in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Roston Chase is in at number 5. Also, a change in bowling as skipper Mitchell Santner brings himself into the attack, replacing Jacob Duffy.

James Neesham to Ackeem Auguste, OUT! CAUGHT! A soft dismissal! Neesham takes pace off and pushes it across the left-hander, on a good length. Ackeem Auguste is made to reach out and he looks to go over mid off but he is nowhere near the pitch of the ball. He still swings through and gets it right off the toe end of the bat. The ball gets skied towards cover, where Rachin Ravindra settles under it and does the rest. Auguste goes for 2 (8) and West Indies are now 43/3 in 7 overs.

It is a pretty good track to bat on, but the batters need to adapt to the pace and bounce of the pitch.

James Neesham to Ackeem Auguste, Wide! Dug in short by Neesham, over middle. Ackeem Auguste sways away. The ball sails over the batter's head for a wide.

James Neesham to Shai Hope, Pace taken off, fuller in length, on middle. Shai clears the front leg again and smears it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

James Neesham to Shai Hope, FOUR! Clubbed! Drags the length back does, Neesham, on off. This sits up to be hit and Shai flat bats it back towards the bowler. Neesham sticks out his right hand whilst ducking out of harm's way but the ball flies past him for four more.

James Neesham to Shai Hope, FOUR! Stand and deliver! A cross-seam delivery, on a good length, on the off stump. Shai Hope stays leg side of the ball and opens up the front hip. Goes inside out over extra cover for a boundary.

James Neesham to Shai Hope, Angled into the pads, on a length. Shai Hope looks to work it across the line with a closed bat face but the ball straightens up to catch the leading edge. It pops up for a bit before rolling in front of cover.

James Neesham to Ackeem Auguste, Hurls it on a good length, on off, Ackeem Auguste whips it aerially to the right of deep mid-wicket. A bit of hesitation between the two batters for the second run but Michael Bracewell gets rid of the ball quickly and keeps the batters down to one.

New Zealand will be very pleased with the way they have bowled in the Powerplay. Apart from a couple of big shots, they haven't allowed the batters to cut loose. Hitting the top of the stumps with the ball moving and skidding needs quick adjustment, to which the Windies batters have looked to be struggling a bit. James Neesham is introduced into the attack now. He replaces Kyle Jamieson.

Jacob Duffy to Shai Hope, A sharp and quick bumper from Duffy, around the right shoulder. Shai Hope sways away from the line of the ball. At the end of the Powerplay, West Indies are 32/2.

Jacob Duffy to Ackeem Auguste, On a hard length, on off, Ackeem Auguste drags the pull wide of mid on and gets off the mark with a single.

Jacob Duffy to Ackeem Auguste, A confident shout for LBW but turned down! No DRS today, so there will be no thought about taking a review. This skids through, on a back of a length, on middle. Ackeem Auguste has a swipe across the line and the ball brushes his back pad before going behind to the keeper. Looked a bit high.

Jacob Duffy to Ackeem Auguste, Beaten! Angling away from the left-hander, on a good length. Ackeem Auguste plays the line of the ball and looks to keep it out with a straight bat. The ball whistles past the outside edge.

Jacob Duffy to Shai Hope, Serves it on a short of a length, outside off. Shai flashes but ends up chopping it in front of point for a quick single.

Jacob Duffy to Shai Hope, Change of ends for Jacob Duffy! Nipping back in, on a good length, on middle. Hope pushes at the ball tentatively and gets an inside edge that rolls to the right of deep backward square leg for a couple of runs.

Kyle Jamieson to Ackeem Auguste, Good length, on top of off, Ackeem Auguste hacks it to the left of the bowler.

Kyle Jamieson to Ackeem Auguste, Geez, a direct hit from Neesham and Ackeem was gone for all money! On a back of a length, on middle and leg. Ackeem Auguste hangs back and pulls it off the splice of the bat to the right of mid-wicket. There is absolutely no communication between the batters and Ackeem is already halfway through for a single, but Hope denies late and forces Auguste to retreat back. James Neesham dives to collect the ball, and gets a bit off-balance while releasing the throw at the batting end, and misses his shy, allowing Ackeem to get back in.

Kyle Jamieson to Ackeem Auguste, Back of a length, on middle, bunted down the pitch off the back foot by Auguste.

Ackeem Auguste is in next.

Kyle Jamieson to Alick Athanaze, OUT! STRAIGHT UP AND CAUGHT! The change in length does the trick and Kyle Jamieson gets his first wicket. He hits the top of off and middle, on a good length. Generates a good bit of bounce due to the high release point and the ball slamming the deck hard. Alick Athanaze swivels and shapes to pull it over deep square leg, where the boundary is a bit long, and gets a top edge. The ball pops high up in the air and goes only as far as deep backward square leg. Mark Chapman moves a few yards forward and swallows a simple catch in the deep. Alick Athanaze departs on 16 (9) and West Indies are 28/2.

Kyle Jamieson to Alick Athanaze, FOUR! Smashed! Kyle bowls it full with a cross seam, on off, Alick Athanaze swings freely and lofts it over mid off for a one-bounce boundary down the ground.

Kyle Jamieson to Shai Hope, Kyle Jamieson is back on. Hits the deck hard, outside off, Shai Hope waits back and cuts it behind square on the off side for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Alick Athanaze, FOUR! Cheeky! Hard length, just outside off, cutting away off the strip. Alick Athanaze opens the bat face at the last second and gets a bit of an outside edge. The ball shoots between the keeper and the short third fielder for a boundary.

Zakary Foulkes to Alick Athanaze, SIX! He has picked the bones out of it! Zakary comes from around the stumps and lands it full, angling into the batter. Alick Athanaze plays with the angle and clears his front foot before sailing it cleanly over deep mid-wicket for a six. The first biggie of the game.

Zakary Foulkes to Shai Hope, Swings in prodigiously from off, on a hard length. Shai Hope hops off and nudges it to the left of square leg for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Shai Hope, Wild swing and a miss! Slams the deck really hard, does Foulkes, outside off. Shai Hope swings to smash it down town with a flat-batted angle, but misses to connect.

Zakary Foulkes to Shai Hope, Hard length, outside off, Shai Hope works it to the cover region.

Zakary Foulkes to Shai Hope, Whoa, Foulkes starts with a hooping inswinger from a good length. Shai Hope is cramped up for space, but just gets an inside edge onto the back pad.

Jacob Duffy to Alick Athanaze, Back of a length, on off, punched off the back foot to cover.

Jacob Duffy to Alick Athanaze, Good length, on the leg stump line, Alick Athanaze shuffles across to ramp it behind, but misses.

Jacob Duffy to Shai Hope, Tap and run! Short of a good length, around off. Shai Hope hops in the crease and dabs it to the right of the gully fielder for a single.

Jacob Duffy to Shai Hope, Lucky escape for Alick Athanaze! Good-length delivery, right on top of off. Hope smashes it back down the ground with a flat bat, goes straight to Duffy, who sticks out his right hand to pluck it. The ball goes past his fingertips and smashes the stumps at the bowler's end, with Athanaze well out of his crease. Duffy is convinced he got a touch before it hit the stumps. The umpires go upstairs. Multiple replays are checked, but there's no conclusive evidence to suggest the ball touched his fingers. The third umpire deems it Not Out. Jacob and the Kiwi players are clearly not pleased with that.

Gone? Shai Hope has hit this one back towards the stumps at the bowling end. Alick Athanaze is out of his crease, but did Jacob Duffy get a touch on it? There is no clear angle for the third umpire to confirm whether the ball brushed his fingertips. Visible disappointment on Duffy’s face. UltraEdge would have helped, but there is no DRS in use today. It will stay as NOT OUT!

Jacob Duffy to Shai Hope, Big swing and a miss! Around off on a good length. Shai Hope weighs on the back foot, tries to pull it with all his might, but does not connect.

Jacob Duffy to Shai Hope, A bit too loose from Hope! Swings away gently, outside off on a length. Shai Hope does not move his feet and goes fishing at it. Hangs his bat away from his body and the ball beats the bat by a whisker.

Jacob Duffy to Shai Hope, WIDE! Sprays it down the leg stump line on a good length. Shai Hope misses the flick shot. Wide called.

Kyle Jamieson to Shai Hope, On a hard length, outside off, Shai Hope crunches it to the right of covers for a single as Bracewell makes a half stop there.

Kyle Jamieson to Shai Hope, Full and on off, Shai Hope crisply drives it away, but straight to mid off.

Kyle Jamieson to Shai Hope, EDGED, FALLS SHORT! Nipping away from off, on a length. Shai Hope tries to work it to the off side, but gets a thick outside edge which lands just ahead of the first slip fielder.

Kyle Jamieson to Shai Hope, FOUR! Damn, that has been struck at the rate of knots. A chance for catch, missed by Tim Robinson. Outside off, on a good length, moving away with the air. Shai Hope cuts it powerfully to backward point. It goes flat and low to Robinson, who does not pick it and as a result, takes evasive action. The ball goes past him and races away to the fence. Brute force on that shot.

Kyle Jamieson to Shai Hope, Spears it full and on the stumps, Shai Hope cracks the straight drive, but Jamieson stops it on his follow-through.

Kyle Jamieson to Alick Athanaze, On a length, angling outside off, Alick Athanaze works it off the outer half of the bat to widish deep backward point for a single.

West Indies' skipper, Shai Hope is in early. Kyle Jamieson will steam in from the other end.

Jacob Duffy to Brandon King, OUT! TAKEN! Jacob Duffy provides an early breakthrough! Duffy slams the deck hard, keeping the line stump-to-stump. The ball lands and skids through the surface. Brandon King shapes across to flick it, but fails to keep it along the ground and chips it straight to short mid-wicket, where Zakary Foulkes takes it with a reverse cup over his head. Brandon King cannot quite believe it and departs on 3 (4) and West Indies are 4/1.

Jacob Duffy to Brandon King, Touch full and around off, Brandon King drives it straight down the ground, but it is cut off by mid off to his right.

Jacob Duffy to Alick Athanaze, Good length, outside off, guided off the back foot to the right of backward point for a single.

Jacob Duffy to Alick Athanaze, Nips into the batter on a good length, over the top of middle and leg. Alick Athanaze is pinned in the crease and tries to work it across, but gets beaten on the inside edge and is rapped on the thigh pad. A slight appeal for LBW, but wanes away almost instantly.

Ian Bishop informs on air that there is no DRS for this game due to technical difficulties at the venue.

Jacob Duffy to Brandon King, Excellent shot, excellent effort in the field. Good cricket overall. Back of a length, shaping away from off, Brandon King punches it through the cover and mid off gap. The ball races to the ropes but it is cut off by Mitchell Santner, who chases it from mid off. He slides and flicks the ball towards another converging player from the inner ring. A clean save is what the third umpire deems it to be. So a certain boundary saved. Three taken.

Jacob Duffy to Brandon King, Hits the good length, just outside off with some away shape. Brandon King plays it on the up and knocks it to the cover region.

The crowd is gradually building up, and let's hope we are treated to a cracker of a game. Mitchell Santner leads his troops out to the centre. They are followed by the two Windies' openers, Brandon King and Alick Athanaze. Jacob Duffy will kickstart proceedings with the new ball. Duffy to King with a slip in place. Here we go!

We are moments away from the first ball, but before that, the two teams will line up for the national anthems. It will be the West Indies' anthem first, followed by the national anthem of New Zealand.

The captain of West Indies, Shai Hope, says they would have bowled first as well and reckons that it will get better to bat as the evening progresses. Stresses that they will have to put big runs on the board. Informs that they have got a couple of spinners and a few seamers. Overall, he says it is a pretty mixed bag.

New Zealand's captain, Mitchell Santner, admits that while winning the series remains their main objective, the team also has one eye on the World Cup and fine-tuning their preparations. He cheekily adds that the conditions in Auckland will be quite different from what they can expect in India.

West Indies (Playing XI) - Brandon King, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope (C/WK), Roston Chase, Ackeem Auguste, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, and Jayden Seales.

New Zealand (Playing XI) - Tim Robinson, Devon Conway (WK), Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (C), Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, and Jacob Duffy.

TOSS - The flip of the coin lands in favor of New Zealand, and Mitchell Santner has elected to BOWL first.

This is the first meeting between these two sides in this format since the T20 World Cup 2024, where the Men in Maroon defeated the Blackcaps. Overall though, New Zealand hold a clear edge with a 10-5 head-to-head record, and at home, they have been pretty dominant with a 7-1 lead. Interestingly, it's at this very venue, Eden Park, where two of the four matches between these teams have ended in ties. So expect the unexpected here. Luckily, there is no rain forecast and the weather is clear and windy in Auckland, so we are all in for a complete game of cricket. Toss and team sheets coming up shortly.

Over in the West Indies camp, injuries have depleted the pace attack. Frontline seamers Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph are both still sidelined due to injuries, and the burden to lead this department falls on Jayden Seales, who hasn’t disappointed much so far. Matthew Forde returns to support him, and so does Shamar Springer. Stability at the top order has been a long-standing concern for the Windies, but their recent tour of the subcontinent might have sorted that out. Skipper Shai Hope, young Alick Athanaze, and dynamic Brandon King all delivered solid returns, giving them what looks like the right pecking order. That's a huge relief heading into a World Cup year. There was a desperate need for controlled aggression up top, with merciless power hitters ready to explode in the middle order. That blueprint seems to be falling into place now, but it is all about sustainability.

The injury bug won't leave New Zealand alone. Tim Seifert fractured his finger playing for Northern Districts in the Ford Trophy, so he's out of action. Canterbury’s Mitchell Hay gets his chance as the replacement keeper. Losing in-form Seifert means more weight on the shoulders of Devon Conway, Tim Robinson, and Rachin Ravindra to fortify the top order for competitive totals. At least the bowling looks solid. And in the absence of Matt Henry, the load to lead this pace unit is on Jacob Duffy, along with Zakary Foulkes. The rest of the squad is basically what we saw against England, with Ish Sodhi added back in for some leg spin. He will operate alongside skipper Mitchell Santner's left-arm orthodox, and Auckland is also known for offering a bit of assistance to the spinners too.

Three months or so until the next T20 World Cup. That's all the time left, and suddenly every game feels like it counts double. West Indies are coming in hot. They just swept Bangladesh in the T20Is and look like a team that's figured things out. Confidence is high, and they'll fancy their chances in this part of the world as well. New Zealand? Not so much. They've lost back-to-back T20I series at home - first to Australia, then England, although with the weather’s interference in both assignments, with just three completed games out of six, but with zero wins. It's been a bit rough, and now they will aim to fix the loose ends with a quick turnaround.

Hello, cricket addicts! Fresh day, fresh series, and we're locked in. Cricket never sleeps, never slows. Bet no one's complaining, eh? England's white-ball tour has just wrapped, and now, fresh off their successful Bangladesh assignment, the men from the Caribbean march into Kiwi land for an all-format tour starting with a highly anticipated 5-match T20I series. It all kicks off here in the 'City of Sails', Auckland, at the iconic Eden Park. On that note, we welcome you all to our coverage of the first T20I between New Zealand and West Indies. Let's get right into it.

... MATCH DAY ...

A thrilling five-match T20I series is on the horizon as Mitchell Santner-led New Zealand hosts the West Indies in Auckland, with the home side looking to bounce back from recent setbacks against England and Australia, in the T20I format, while Shai Hope's men are riding high on the momentum of a whitewash victory over Bangladesh. New Zealand will be without the services of Kane Williamson, who has hung up his boots for the shorter format, but they'll welcome back the experienced Ish Sodhi, who missed the England series. Meanwhile, West Indies will be buoyed by the return of Matthew Forde, who has overcome a shoulder injury, and the inclusion of Shamar Springer, who adds depth to their pace attack in the absence of Ramon Simmons and Jediah Blades. With both teams evenly matched, the West Indies' current form in T20Is could prove decisive, but New Zealand will be keen to capitalize on their home advantage and exploit the vulnerabilities of their opponents, setting the stage for an enthralling contest between two cricketing heavyweights.