NZ vs WI 1st T20I Results

10:19 AM IST The captain of New Zealand, Mitchell Santner, says they were reasonably happy at the halfway mark with 164 on the board and felt it was a chaseable total. He admits the Windies bowled really well and understood the conditions well. Santner adds that they were put under pressure in the middle overs and couldn’t quite get the momentum going. Mentions that he is pleased with how his pacers performed. Further says there are plenty of learnings to take, and stresses the need to move on quickly without dwelling too much on the result.

10:17 AM IST Akeal Hosein was introduced in the 12th over, his latest entry point in a T20I, perhaps due to the number of left-handers in the Kiwi top four. He made an immediate impact by dismissing Rachin Ravindra, and from there, the Windies kept chipping away at the wickets. Daryl Mitchell couldn’t make much of an impact either, and on a two-paced wicket where it wasn’t easy for new batters to go big from ball one, the required run rate kept climbing as wickets fell one after another.

10:17 AM IST After West Indies were asked to bat first, it was all about adapting from the slow, low pitches of Bangladesh to the surface here in Auckland. The two-paced nature of the wicket made scoring even more challenging. Most of the batters found it hard to get going, and Shai Hope too struggled early on before finding his rhythm. Hope fell at an inopportune time after scoring a fifty, but Rovman Powell carried on the good work, even as Roston Chase found it tough at the other end. Thanks largely to Powell’s efforts, 51 runs came off the last five overs, helping the Windies reach 164.

10:15 AM IST Mitchell Santner gave them a real scare, but West Indies eventually get the job done. This is the lowest T20I total ever successfully defended at Eden Park. Many felt the Windies were under par at the halfway mark, but the bowlers came through to put them ahead in the series. Santner gave it a serious crack towards the end, and to take the game that close from what looked like a point of no return is a commendable effort.

10:13 AM IST The victorious captain of West Indies, Shai Hope, is all smiles. He says communication is key in crucial moments. Shares that they didn't try to get too far ahead of themselves. Appreciates the way Mitchell Santner batted in the end and admits that it got a bit scary at the backend. But he adds that the communication was clear on the execution. He also admits that they fell a few runs short in the first innings, but says that, seeing how the surface was for both teams, he feels it was a good score. Concedes that they needed to be a bit more clinical in the Powerplay while batting. Points that he might have gone a bit too hard early since he was eyeing a 200-plus total, but says it just wasn't to be. About the second match in a quick turnaround, Hope says it is all about assessing the conditions and starting afresh.

10:12 AM IST It’s the West Indies’ first win in regulation time in T20Is in New Zealand against the Kiwis, and one that puts them ahead in this five-match series. Not much time to dwell on tonight’s success, though perhaps a small celebration is in order with Jason Holder’s birthday adding to the occasion. As for New Zealand, there isn’t much time to reflect on the defeat, which might be a good thing, as both teams gear up for a quick turnaround. The second T20I will be played here in Auckland on Thursday, 6th November, with the first ball at 6.15 am GMT. As always, you can join us early for all the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!