West Indies’ Shimron Hetmyer. File
| Picture Credit score: AP
Shimron Hetmyer held his nerve late within the run chase to make an unbeaten 69 and steer West Indies to a two-wicket win over New Zealand on Tuesday (July 22, 2026) within the fifth and ultimate one-day cricket worldwide.
New Zealand took the collection 3-2, clinching it in Recreation 4 after successful Recreation 2 by 5 wickets and Recreation 3 by six wickets in a comeback following West Indies’ seven-wicket victory within the opening recreation.
Hetmyer’s fifth ODI half-century and his partnership of 95 with Sherfane Rutherford (61) allowed the West Indies to achieve 269-8 in reply to New Zealand’s 268-9 with 15 balls remaining. All 5 matches within the collection have been gained by the workforce batting second.
When Hetmyer and Rutherford have been collectively in a fifth-wicket partnership that constructed on the inspiration set by Shai Hope (39) and Keacy Carty (20) — who placed on 59 for the third wicket — West Indies regarded like successful with ease.
Swinging momentum
However the match was a seesawing encounter. Rutherford was out when West Indies was 218-5, needing 41 to win with nearly 10 overs remaining, after which Gudakesh Motie fell at 239-6.
When Jacob Duffy dismissed Matthew Forde and Alzarri Joseph with consecutive deliveries within the forty fifth over, and with 21 runs nonetheless wanted for a West Indies win, the complexion of the match modified once more.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner made the weird choice to take left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox out of the assault after he had taken 3-35 from 9 overs. Hetmyer hit two sixes off Duffy within the forty seventh over and West Indies bought house with greater than two overs to spare.
Lennox took 14 wickets at a mean of 13.6 and was voted participant of the collection.
“I wasn’t actually fascinated about getting a half-century to be sincere, I used to be simply fascinated about how … I can be sure the workforce crosses the road,” Hetmyer mentioned. “Each time a brand new batter got here out I used to be identical to ensure you’re there on the finish.’ I am simply completely satisfied that I may very well be there to verify we crossed the road.” New Zealand gave the impression to be heading for a a lot greater complete when it was 181-3 within the thirty fifth over and 230-5 with 5 overs to go. Will Younger made 56, Tom Latham made 69 and Nick Kelly scored 64 to drive the innings. However the end was lacking in opposition to tight bowling, particularly from Alzarri Joseph, who took 2-38 from his 10 overs.
Run chase begins rapidly
West Indies’ innings started at greater than eight runs per over by way of the primary 5 overs.
Then, in a double setback, it misplaced openers Ackeem Auguste and Justin Greaves within the area of 5 deliveries. Nonetheless, the house workforce was scoring at extra seven runs per over after 10 overs as Hope and Carty saved up the tempo.
New Zealand started to use strain by way of the spinners, Carty confronted a collection of dot balls and after reaching 118-2, each he and Hope fell inside three overs.
Hope fell to a poor ball from Lennox which he tried to hoist over the leg aspect subject however pulled to Kristian Clarke coming off the fence at midwicket.
Keacy was annoyed to be pinned down and at last slashed throughout the road at a straight ball from Lennox which hit center stump.
Rutherford stepped up first to revive the innings and located a like-minded associate in Hetmyer, who was decided to be in on the end.
Revealed – July 23, 2026 04:39 am IST
