Right then, that’s all we have from what turned out to be a thrilling contest, where New Zealand just got the better of West Indies. With the series now locked at 1-1, the stage is perfectly set for an enticing third encounter. The 3rd T20I will take place at the Saxton Oval in Nelson on 9th November, Sunday, starting at 12.15 am GMT. As always, do join us early for all the build-up and pre-match discussions. Until then, take care and goodbye!

Mitchell Santner, the victorious skipper of New Zealand, says that it got really close but credits the West Indies, as they showed once again that they’re never out of the game, especially with the kind of power they possess. Adds that the conditions got a bit dewy toward the end, and the cutters began to skid on a little. Shares that the bowlers need to keep mixing it up and credits the boys who held their nerve brilliantly. Lauds Mark Chapman, who showed great intent right from the start, taking quick singles, using his feet, and keeping the scoreboard ticking. Once he got in, he just went into overdrive. He’s got that license to keep going, and that’s exactly what he did. Closes by adding that the passage of play completely turned the game in their favour.

Shai Hope, the captain of West Indies, says that they almost got over the line. Adds that Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, and Matthew Forde were great, but they needed more runs up front. Adds that with the firepower that they have, they can never be written off in any game. Says that Forde was bowling really well, so they wanted to keep him going with the new ball and bowl four overs on the trot.

Mark Chapman is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his amazing knock and three catches in the field. He says that it’s always nice to connect a few out of the middle. Adds that there were some valuable contributions all around. Mentions that Conway and Robinson did a fantastic job negotiating the new ball, as it looked quite tricky early on. Says that it was about trying to throw a few punches and take the game on a bit more. Tells that with the smaller boundaries, we got to play a more fearless brand of cricket. Closes by adding that he’s glad that it came off in this match.

Presentation Time...

New Zealand will be relieved to have held their nerve and crossed the finish line, but there’s no denying that their death bowling remains a concern after almost letting the game slip away. Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson set the tone early with the new ball, with the former striking first to put the visitors on the back foot. The middle overs belonged to the spin duo of Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner, who shared six wickets between them and kept things tight. However, once their spells ended, the pressure eased, and the Windies batters took full advantage to mount a strong comeback. It all came down to Jamieson in the final over with 16 to defend - despite a shaky start with a couple of boundaries and a No-Ball, he held his composure to see New Zealand through by the narrowest of margins.

Earlier in the game, after being put in to bat, New Zealand piled up a massive total on the board. The openers began steadily, with Tim Robinson taking the initiative with some crisp strokes, but the real show was stolen by Mark Chapman, who blasted a breathtaking 78 off just 28 balls to completely shift the momentum. A rapid cameo from Daryl Mitchell at the end helped them cross the 200-run mark. For West Indies, Roston Chase picked up a couple of wickets while Matthew Forde was the most economical, conceding only 17 runs in his four overs and grabbing one wicket. Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd also chipped in with one apiece, but collectively, they failed to contain the flow of runs in the middle and death overs.

Losing Brandon King early was far from ideal for the West Indies in their chase. Alick Athanaze tried to inject some momentum, while Shai Hope took his time to get going. The pair added 49 runs for the second wicket, but neither could convert their starts, and a middle-order slump saw them crumble from 49/1 to 93/6. Just when it seemed all over, Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd turned the game on its head with a stunning six-hitting assault, smashing 10 maximums between them to bring the visitors right back into it. Shepherd’s dismissal came at the wrong time, though, and despite some late fireworks from Matthew Forde, the Windies fell heartbreakingly short by just 3 runs. Powell, who had taken them to the brink, needing only 6 off 3, will be gutted to have missed out on completing a remarkable heist.

What a spectacle we’ve just witnessed at Eden Park! New Zealand have scraped through by the barest of margins to square the series in a contest that went right down to the wire. West Indies, despite being on the back foot for most of the chase, refused to give up and pushed the hosts all the way - a reminder that you can never count them out, especially in this format with the kind of firepower they possess.

Akeal Hosein comes out to the middle now.

Kyle Jamieson will bowl the final over. Can he defend 15 runs here? All three results still possible.