New Zealand clinched the three-match ODI series with a game to spare after outgunning the West Indies by five wickets in a rain-affected second ODI at McLean Park, Napier, on Wednesday. Set 248 in 34 overs, the hosts got home with three balls to spare thanks to a composed late assault from skipper Mitchell Santner and Test captain Tom Latham.
Conway–Ravindra Stand Sets Up The Chase
An 84-ball 90 from Devon Conway laid the foundation for New Zealand’s pursuit. He combined with Rachin Ravindra (56) for a 105-run stand, New Zealand’s first 100-run ODI partnership in 73 matches, dating back to February 2020. That platform briefly wobbled after a couple of quick wickets, but New Zealand stayed within striking distance.
Santner & Latham Finish The Job
With 47 needed off the final five overs, Santner and Latham shifted gears perfectly. Santner smashed 34 off just 15 balls, including two sixes, while Latham added a steady 39 off 29.
They needed eight from the last over. A misfired full toss from Jayden Seales — clipped for four and called a no-ball — made the finish straightforward.
A few boys were thinking today would be rained out and gearing up for golf. With the new ball, it looked tricky, but credit to Shai for a great hundred… It’s one of those grounds where, if you get a good start, you can cash in, and we exploited that.
The victory took New Zealand to an unassailable 2–0 lead, with the final ODI scheduled for November 22 in Hamilton.
Shai Hope’s Lone Hand Lifts Wi To 247/9
For most of the innings, West Indies were carried by their captain Shai Hope, who produced a breathtaking unbeaten 109 off 69 balls. Despite his fireworks, support was sparse: three players — Ackeem Auguste, Justin Greaves, Romario Shepherd — managed 22 each, while Matthew Forde added 21.
Hope’s late acceleration pushed the West Indies to a competitive total, but he admitted it was still a few runs short.
I got 109, but it was not enough. Needed 120–130 for us to win… Everyone knows I love to win. I’d rather score two or five and win. I honestly thought it was enough. Clearly, it wasn’t.
Reflecting on where things slipped, he added: “We may have gone off the boil with the ball… In certain areas, we can improve, maybe more pressure in the powerplay.
Back-To-Back Thrillers
The game followed another tight finish in Christchurch, where the West Indies fell seven runs short. Once again, despite Hope’s heroics, the hosts’ depth and composure prevailed.
Brief Scores: West Indies 247/9 (34 overs) Shai Hope 109*; Nathan Smith 4–42 (7), Kyle Jamieson 3–44 (7); New Zealand 248/5 (33.3 overs) Devon Conway 90, Rachin Ravindra 56, Tom Latham 39*, Mitchell Santner 34*; Matthew Forde 1–42. Result: New Zealand won by 5 wickets and lead the series 2–0.
