The second T20 International match between West Indies and New Zealand reached the pinnacle of excitement. The match saw a flurry of fours and sixes, the run rate soared, and spectators remained glued to their seats.
Sports News: Mark Chapman's explosive batting led New Zealand to a spectacular victory in the second T20 International match played on Thursday. He played a blistering innings of 78 runs off just 28 balls, including 6 fours and 7 sixes. Thanks to his brilliant knock, New Zealand defeated West Indies by three runs, leveling the series 1-1. Chapman's innings not only proved to be the turning point of the match but also once again contributed significantly to the team with his aggressive batting.
Mark Chapman Becomes Hero with Explosive 78-Run Knock off 28 Balls
Mark Chapman was the hero of New Zealand's victory, playing a rapid-fire innings of 78 runs off just 28 balls. His innings featured 6 fours and 7 sixes. Chapman completed his half-century in just 19 balls, taking the opposition bowlers to task. Due to his aggressive batting, New Zealand scored 100 runs between the 9th and 16th overs, which is considered a rare achievement in T20 cricket.
Besides Chapman, Daryl Mitchell (unbeaten 28 off 14 balls) and Mitch Santner (unbeaten 18 off 8 balls) also played quickfire innings. Opener Tim Robinson also made a crucial contribution of 39 runs. The team posted a massive total of 207 runs for 5 wickets in the allotted 20 overs, setting the stage for an exciting match.
West Indies' Slow Start, Followed by a Storm
Chasing the target, West Indies had a very disappointing start. Their top-order batsmen struggled initially, and by the 13th over, the team had only managed 94 runs for 6 wickets. It seemed as though the match would be one-sided. However, what followed completely changed the complexion of the game. The lower middle-order batsmen launched a powerful counter-attack on New Zealand's bowlers. By smashing over 100 runs in the next 7 overs, West Indies kept the contest alive until the very last ball.
West Indies captain Rovman Powell played a whirlwind innings of 45 runs off 16 balls. Romario Shepherd also scored 34 runs off 16 balls alongside him. Towards the end, Matthew Ford added an unbeaten 29 runs (13 balls), keeping their hopes alive. However, with 10 runs needed in the final over, West Indies' hopes were dashed. Despite a brilliant comeback, the team could only manage 205 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs.
Thrilling Finish, But Victory for New Zealand
In terms of bowling for New Zealand, Adam Milne, Santner, and Lockie Ferguson picked up crucial wickets. Even under pressure in the final over, New Zealand showed composure and clinched the match. With this victory, New Zealand leveled the three-match T20 series 1-1, while West Indies is calling this defeat “heartbreaking”.
