What a thrilling game, a match of the see-saw, a team won and a player lost. At 164 for 7 when everyone thought the game was over Brathwaite pushed the game into the last over with his clean hittings.
The match has been voted as the best match of the tournament so far which can be seen in the below poll result.
Best game of the World Cup so far? #CWC19 #INDvAFG #NZvWI #ENGvSL #NZvSA
— OpIndia Cricket (@OpIndiaCricket) June 23, 2019
After winning the toss, West Indies decided to bowl first, and the bowlers gave them the best start of the tournament. Both the Kiwi openers were dismissed for golden ducks, only the third time in ODI history. But Kiwi captain, Kane Williamson, who is in hot form in the tournament recovered the team from an early blow. He and the experienced Ross Taylor (69) added 160 runs for the third wicket. The recovery paid off well as Kane went on to score the second hundred of the tournament. He was dismissed for 148 in the 47th over, but the lower order kept hitting runs and took the team to a score of 291 in 50 overs.
Watch: New Zealand Innings
#KaneWilliamson continued his white-hot form, steadying the ship and scoring a magnificent 148, becoming just the third captain to score back-to-back @cricketworldcup tons.
See his (and the rest of New Zealand's) best shots here ??#BACKTHEBLACKCAPS | #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/rrxVqccbpj
— ICC (@ICC) June 22, 2019
West Indies had a lousy start too, and they lost Hope and Pooran within six overs with 20 runs on board. However, Gyale finally broked the shackles of poor scores and made 87 off 84 balls and added 122 runs with Hetmyer (54) for the third wicket, followed by the collapse which reduced them to 164 for 7.
From here Brathwaite took the onus of chasing the score all alone. He smashed nine fours and five sixes, and almost won the match for his team single-handedly. He added 31 runs for the last wicket before holding out at long on boundary.
Watch: West Indian Innings
Carlos Braithwaite, remember the name?
Well @TridentSportsX nearly made us remember all over again with an incredible display of power hitting at the death.
Watch @windiescricket's best shots here ?#MenInMaroon | #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/w0LxokHrCt
— ICC (@ICC) June 22, 2019
STATS
- Williamson becomes the first Kiwi batsman to score back to back hundreds in the World Cup tournament.
- Brathwaite scores his first ODI hundred, before this match he averaged just 14 in ODIs.
- Gayle (22) became the highest wicket-taker for West Indies in ODIs against New Zealand.
