So we have another team that has made it through to the next stage in the ICC World T20 2024. This time it is the co-hosts of the West Indies, who following their victory over New Zealand have booked their berth in the next stage of the competition.
It was always going to be a tricky game for the team from the Caribbean. New Zealand are by no means a pushover and would have fancied their chance against the West Indies who have had a mixed record in international cricket. Having failed to qualify for last year’s ICC ODI World Cup, there were likely to be questions on how well they would perform. But those doubts have been put to rest.
West Indies Won the Battle of Wits
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Things didn’t start well for the men in maroon. Having lost their mainstay at the top Johnson Charles for a duck, Nicholas Pooran provided some quick but short impetus to the innings. But when he fell 17 with the total score of 20 things still didn’t look too bad for the powerful West Indian batting lineup.
However, as it has been for much of this tournament none of the middle order players were able to come into their own and blow the opposition bowling away. With momentous and final score of the West Indies innings was greatly helped by an almost one-man show by Sherfane Rutherford who scored a brilliant 68 off 39 with six sixes. This inning will prove to be the difference by the end of the T20 game.
Caribbean Cricket Marches On
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Thankfully for hosts and for much of the cricketing world that enjoys Caribbean cricket it is good news. West Indies managed to put in a good enough performance on an indifferent wicket to gain the vital 2 points that pave their way into the next round. Whilst it was not the most domineering performance the West Indies would have liked, it was good enough on the day.
For New Zealand on the other hand things have not gone according to plan. Something is not clicking for this team. After that terrible defeat to Afghanistan, where not a single New Zealand batsman went past 20, questions hung over the depth of the batting lineup. And this time chasing a moderately respectable score of 150 in the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, the Blackcaps could not stamp their authority on the game.
Almost Over for New Zealand
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With two defeats in two games, things are looking grim for the black caps. Touted as one of the stronger teams coming into this tournament led by the exceptional Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s campaign has gone from bad to not-so-bad. But still bad enough that they were unable to get over the finish line. The batting, as it is for most teams struggling in this tournament is the main headache.
Uncertainty on who would open for New Zealand, with Rachin Ravindra dropping down to 3, means that Williamson had to bat a position lower. Whilst Finn Allen had a better game, Devon Conway is far from his fluid best. What this all means is that the fate of New Zealand’s progress in this tournament is no longer in their hands.
Afghanistan will have to slip up a couple of times, and New Zealand will have to win all of their remaining games to get to the Super 8. But to do so the key players will have to come good and fast. This is where a team like Australia is head and shoulders ahead. They go in get the job done and move on. In New Zealand, it is not that simple.
