Fireworks From Brandon King Lights Up Sabina Park For Windies
Trio of Jamaicans steal the show to help deliver maiden limited overs defeat of the year to New Zealand
Brandon King’s quickfire half-century was part of a rare T20I triumph for the West Indies, who stunned New Zealand at Sabina Park yesterday thanks to the Jamaican contingent (14 August).
King lit up pitch in his home city of Kingston by storming to his 50 off just 30 balls in the 12th over, as the vocal crowd went absolutely wild with his dynamic display.
With the tourists having edged the opening T20I in Jamaica, and then destroyed the Caribbean side in the second T20I at Sabina Park, it came as a total surprise that the Windies were so commanding in their final clash.
Yet it was thanks to the guile and expertise of Jamaica’s Rovman Powell, who was the stand-in skipper for Trinidadian Nicholas Pooran, that the Windies were on fire.
Having been humiliated by India in the recent T20I five-match series, and then outplayed in all departments to suffer a 90-run defeat as New Zealand took a 2-0 lead in the three-match series, the result yesterday was highly unexpected.
The West Indies appeared to be brimming with confidence, as the fans came out in support. The team hit the cruise control button and never looked back, as New Zealand were crushed by eight wickets.
Although this result was a shock, considering that this was New Zealand’s maiden limited overs defeat this year, then it was no wonder that the Caribbean fans were singing and dancing inside the cauldron of Sabina Park.
With the series already wrapped up, it was the Jamaican duo of King and all rounder Odean Smith to steal the show with bat and ball respectively. And Powell, the hard-hitting middle order batsman, relished the opportunity to take over the helm on home turf.
Bowling first for the third match on the bounce, the Windies limited New Zealand to 145-7 from their 20 overs, with Smith improving on his career-best T20I figures for the third time in four matches.
Smith led the attack with his fast medium pace to finish with 3-29, with Trinidadian left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein in support with 2-28.
New Zealand stuttered to 64-3 at the halfway mark of 10 overs. But hit a purple patch when Glenn Phillips (41) and captain Kane Williamson (24) put on a further 47 for the fourth wicket, which pushed the score beyond the 100-run mark.
With the supportive fans acting as a most welcome 12th man, the Windies delivered the goods to stifle New Zealand in the closing stages and only allow 39 runs to be scored from their final five overs.
Chasing a target of 146, openers Shamarh Brooks and King were on fire to score superb half-centuries. But their 102-run partnership came to an end when King was caught at deep square by opener Martin Guptill off Tim Southee.
Antiguan wicketkeeper Devon Thomas made just five runs before being sent back to the pavilion. Bajan Brooks, who went on to bag his maiden T20I half century with an unbeaten 56 from 59 deliveries, was joined at the crease by Powell.
It was Powell who polished off the remarkable team display with the winning runs and an over to spare. He thundered a six in his unbeaten innings of 27 off 15 balls to send the home fans into disbelief.
Next up for the Windies will be a trio of ODI matches against New Zealand. These will be played at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Wednesday, Friday and under the lights on Sunday.
WI v NZ SHORT-BALL SERIES
1st T20I | New Zealand won by 13 runs
New Zealand 185-5 (20 overs)
West Indies 172-7 (20 overs)
2nd T20I | New Zealand won by 90 runs
New Zealand 215-5 (20 overs)
West Indies 125-9 (20 overs)
3rd T20I | West Indies won by 8 wickets
New Zealand 145-7 (20 overs)
West Indies 150-2 (19 overs)
17 August | 1st ODI | Kensington Oval, Barbados
19 August | 1st ODI | Kensington Oval, Barbados
21 August | 1st ODI | Kensington Oval, Barbados
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