Cricket News: New Zealand VS West Indies 3rd ODI - Captain Tom Latham powers New Zealand to a series win over hosts
Stand-in skipper Tom Latham top-scored with 69 as New Zealand defeated the West Indies by five wickets in the third and final one-day international series in Barbados on Sunday
Tom Latham powers New Zealand to a series win over hostsNew Zealand did not start at their best with a mammoth target of 302 runs. They lost their early wicket in the form of Finn Allen in the fourth over. Martin Guptill and Devon Conway stitched 82 runs in partnership. Though they anchored but asking rate still looked high.
After Martin Guptill and Devon Conway departed at 57 and 56 runs, respectively, skipper Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell accelerated the scoring for their team by partnering for 120 runs off 103 balls. They fetched runs seamlessly and effectively in the time of need. The finishing touch to the game was given by James Neesham, scoring an unbeaten 34 off 11 to end the game with five wickets and 2.5 overs to spare.
West Indies performed poorly while fielding. While Jason Holder was good, Alzarri Joseph went unlucky. The wet ball and conditions made it difficult for bowlers to defend a high total of 302.
Earlier in the game, West Indies openers Kyle Mayers and Shai Hope gave a stunning start to the final ODI. They built a great partnership of 173 runs in 209 balls as Kyle Mayers scored 105. Skipper Nicholas Pooran looked to anchor after the departure of both the openers. But he didn't find support from the other end as wickets kept tumbling.
New Zealand bowlers were destructive in failing hosts to get any significant partnership. Nicholas Pooran smashed 48 runs while standing alongside Kacey Carty in a partnership of 52 runs. Nicholas Pooran fetched 91 runs, whereas Alzarri Joseph added 20 off 6, in the end, to take the total to 301/8.
Nicholas Pooran said, "We are a young team. NZ are the number 1 team and in good batting conditions, they took advantage of it."
After grabbing the series win by 2-1 against West Indies, New Zealand will tour Australia for a three-match ODI series from 6th September 2022. In contrast, West Indies will directly play their next international fixture in Australia in the form of 2 T20I matches from 5th October 2022.
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