Cricket fans around the world were treated to an electrifying showdown when the West Indies Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard in Match 26 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Held on June 12, 2024, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago, this Group C encounter was a pivotal moment in the tournament. The West Indies, powered by a sensational performance from Sherfane Rutherford, secured a 13-run victory over New Zealand, booking their spot in the Super Eight stage. In this article, we’ll dive into the match details, break down the scorecard, and highlight the key moments that defined this thrilling contest. Whether you’re a die-hard cricket fan or a casual viewer, this breakdown is crafted to be engaging, easy to understand, and packed with insights.
Match Overview: A High-Stakes Battle
The West Indies, known as the Windies, entered the match with confidence, playing on home soil and backed by a passionate crowd. New Zealand, a consistent performer in ICC events, was under pressure after a loss in their opening game, making this a must-win clash to keep their Super Eight hopes alive. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bowl first, hoping to exploit early conditions on a tricky pitch affected by inclement weather. The decision set the stage for a dramatic contest, with both teams showcasing their skills in a game that swung back and forth.
The West Indies posted a competitive total of 149/9 in their 20 overs, largely thanks to Rutherford’s heroic unbeaten 68 off 39 balls. In response, New Zealand struggled against a disciplined West Indies bowling attack, finishing at 136/9, falling 13 runs short. Let’s break down the scorecard and explore how this match unfolded.
West Indies Batting: Rutherford’s Rescue Act
The West Indies’ batting innings was a tale of struggle and redemption. Sent in to bat, they faced early trouble as New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Trent Boult, exploited the conditions. The pitch was challenging, with uneven bounce and pace, making strokeplay difficult. Here’s a look at the West Indies’ batting scorecard:
|
Player |
Status |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brandon King |
c Southee b Neesham |
9 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 75.00 |
|
Johnson Charles |
b Boult |
0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Nicholas Pooran (wk) |
c Conway b Southee |
17 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 141.67 |
|
Roston Chase |
c Ravindra b Ferguson |
0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Rovman Powell (c) |
c Conway b Boult |
1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
|
Sherfane Rutherford |
not out |
68 | 39 | 2 | 6 | 174.36 |
|
Andre Russell |
c Phillips b Boult |
14 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 200.00 |
|
Romario Shepherd |
c Conway b Southee |
13 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 100.00 |
|
Akeal Hosein |
c Neesham b Ferguson |
9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 128.57 |
|
Alzarri Joseph |
b Santner |
6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
|
Gudakesh Motie |
not out |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
|
Extras |
(lb 5, w 6) |
11 | ||||
|
Total |
149/9 (20 overs) |
Fall of Wickets: 1/1 (Charles, 1 ov), 20/2 (Pooran, 3.5 ov), 21/3 (Chase, 4.3 ov), 22/4 (Powell, 5.4 ov), 30/5 (King, 6.3 ov), 58/6 (Hosein, 11 ov), 76/7 (Russell, 12.3 ov), 103/8 (Shepherd, 16.2 ov), 112/9 (Joseph, 17.5 ov)
Key Batting Performances
-
Sherfane Rutherford (68 off 39)*: The star of the innings, Rutherford walked in with the West Indies reeling at 22/4. His counter-attacking knock, featuring six towering sixes, turned the game around. He formed crucial partnerships with Andre Russell (14 off 7), Akeal Hosein (9 off 7), and Romario Shepherd (13 off 13) to drag the Windies to a fighting total. Rutherford’s composure under pressure earned him the Player of the Match award. He later revealed he focused on “keeping things simple” and believed he could accelerate once he found his rhythm.
-
Nicholas Pooran (17 off 12): Pooran provided a brief spark with three boundaries, but his dismissal triggered a collapse.
-
Andre Russell (14 off 7): Russell’s quickfire cameo, including a six, gave the innings momentum before his departure.
The West Indies were in deep trouble at 76/7 after 12.3 overs, but Rutherford’s heroics, combined with lower-order contributions, ensured they reached a defendable 149. The New Zealand bowlers started strongly but leaked runs in the death overs, allowing the Windies to seize momentum.
New Zealand Bowling: Boult Shines, but Late Overs Costly
New Zealand’s bowling attack was disciplined early on, reducing the West Indies to 30/5 in the powerplay. However, they struggled to contain Rutherford in the latter stages. Here’s the bowling scorecard for New Zealand:
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Trent Boult |
4 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 4.00 |
|
Tim Southee |
4 | 0 | 21 | 2 | 5.25 |
|
Lockie Ferguson |
4 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 6.75 |
|
James Neesham |
4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 |
|
Glenn Phillips |
1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9.00 |
|
Mitchell Santner |
2 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 13.50 |
|
Daryl Mitchell |
1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 19.00 |
Key Bowling Performances
-
Trent Boult (3/16): Boult was the standout bowler, striking early to remove Johnson Charles and later dismissing Powell and Russell. His tight lines and swing made him a constant threat.
-
Tim Southee (2/21): Southee supported Boult well, picking up Pooran and Shepherd to keep the pressure on.
-
Lockie Ferguson (2/27): Ferguson chipped in with the wickets of Chase and Hosein but was expensive in the death overs.
New Zealand’s bowlers dominated the first 12 overs but couldn’t maintain their grip as Rutherford unleashed his onslaught. Captain Kane Williamson later admitted the team struggled with the “tricky surface” and gave away too many runs at the backend.
New Zealand Batting: A Chase Derailed
Chasing 150, New Zealand needed a solid start, but the West Indies’ bowlers, led by Alzarri Joseph and Gudakesh Motie, had other plans. The pitch remained challenging, and the Windies’ strategy of hitting hard lengths paid off. Here’s the New Zealand batting scorecard:
|
Player |
Status |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Devon Conway (wk) |
c Pooran b Hosein |
5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 62.50 |
|
Finn Allen |
c Charles b Russell |
26 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 113.04 |
|
Kane Williamson (c) |
c Pooran b Joseph |
1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
|
Rachin Ravindra |
c Rutherford b Motie |
10 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 76.92 |
|
Daryl Mitchell |
c Powell b Motie |
12 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 92.31 |
|
Glenn Phillips |
c Russell b Joseph |
40 | 33 | 3 | 2 | 121.21 |
|
James Neesham |
c King b Motie |
10 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 90.91 |
|
Mitchell Santner |
not out |
21 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 175.00 |
|
Tim Southee |
c Rutherford b Joseph |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Lockie Ferguson |
c Russell b Joseph |
0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Trent Boult |
not out |
7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 175.00 |
|
Extras |
(lb 2, w 2) |
4 | ||||
|
Total |
136/9 (20 overs) |
Fall of Wickets: 20/1 (Conway, 3 ov), 34/2 (Allen, 5.4 ov), 39/3 (Williamson, 6.4 ov), 54/4 (Ravindra, 8.5 ov), 63/5 (Mitchell, 11.1 ov), 87/6 (Neesham, 14.4 ov), 108/7 (Phillips, 17.3 ov), 108/8 (Southee, 17.4 ov), 112/9 (Ferguson, 18.3 ov)
Key Batting Performances
-
Glenn Phillips (40 off 33): Phillips fought hard, hitting three fours and two sixes, but lacked support as wickets fell around him.
-
Finn Allen (26 off 23): Allen provided a brisk start but couldn’t convert it into a big score.
-
Mitchell Santner (21 off 12)*: Santner’s late flourish, including three sixes, came too late to change the outcome.
New Zealand’s chase never gained momentum, with regular wickets disrupting their flow. The middle overs, dominated by Motie’s spin and Joseph’s pace, proved decisive.
West Indies Bowling: Joseph and Motie Steal the Show
The West Indies’ bowlers executed their plan to perfection, focusing on hard lengths and spin to exploit the pitch. Here’s their bowling scorecard:
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Akeal Hosein |
4 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 5.25 |
|
Romario Shepherd |
3 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 12.00 |
|
Andre Russell |
4 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 7.50 |
|
Alzarri Joseph |
4 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 4.75 |
|
Gudakesh Motie |
4 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 6.25 |
Key Bowling Performances
-
Alzarri Joseph (4/19): Joseph was the wrecker-in-chief, dismissing Williamson, Phillips, Southee, and Ferguson with fiery pace and accuracy. His spell swung the game decisively.
-
Gudakesh Motie (3/25): Motie’s spin strangled the middle order, removing Ravindra, Mitchell, and Neesham to derail the chase.
-
Andre Russell (1/30): Russell chipped in with Allen’s wicket, maintaining pressure in the middle overs.
West Indies captain Rovman Powell praised his bowlers for sticking to their plan of hitting hard lengths, especially with a wet ball due to earlier rain.
Match Turning Points
-
Early Collapse (West Indies 30/5): New Zealand’s bowlers, particularly Boult, tore through the Windies’ top order, leaving them in tatters early on.
-
Rutherford’s Counter-Attack: Rutherford’s unbeaten 68, with six sixes, transformed a precarious 76/7 into a competitive 149/9, shifting momentum.
-
Motie’s Spin Magic: Motie’s three wickets in the middle overs broke New Zealand’s batting backbone, making the chase an uphill task.
-
Joseph’s Late Strikes: Joseph’s four-wicket haul, including two in two balls, sealed New Zealand’s fate in the 18th over.
Post-Match Reflections
West Indies captain Rovman Powell expressed delight at the team’s resilience, crediting Rutherford’s knock and the bowlers’ discipline. He noted that the team focused on replicating New Zealand’s effective hard-length bowling strategy. Kane Williamson, meanwhile, acknowledged the challenging pitch and lauded Rutherford’s game-changing innings. He admitted New Zealand needed to regroup quickly to stay in the tournament.
The victory propelled the West Indies into the Super Eight, while New Zealand faced an uphill battle to qualify, especially with Afghanistan’s strong campaign in Group C.
Why This Match Mattered
This match was more than just a group-stage clash. For the West Indies, it was a statement of intent on home soil, showcasing their depth and ability to fight back from adversity. Rutherford’s knock was a reminder of the Windies’ flair, while their bowlers demonstrated tactical acumen. For New Zealand, the loss highlighted their struggles in adapting to Caribbean conditions, putting their tournament hopes in jeopardy.
Conclusion
The West Indies Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard at the 2024 T20 World Cup was a classic T20 encounter, filled with drama, individual brilliance, and tactical battles. Sherfane Rutherford’s heroics, backed by a disciplined bowling effort, secured a memorable win for the Windies. The detailed scorecard above captures the essence of the game, but it’s the moments—like Rutherford’s towering sixes and Joseph’s fiery spell—that will linger in fans’ memories. Whether you’re a young fan just learning the game or a seasoned follower, this match was a testament to why cricket continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
