- Relive the first ODI heartbreak for West Indies here
- Dive into Devon Conway’s ODI resurgence
- Mitchell Santner’s white-ball magic unpacked
A Rain-Drenched Drama Unfolds in Napier
The skies over McLean Park hung heavy, dumping enough water to turn the outfield into a skating rink.New Zealand’s stand-in skipper, Mitchell Santner, won the toss and, with a grin that said “why not,” opted to bowl. Little did we know, this call would spark one of those classic Kiwi-WI white-ball rollercoasters, the kind that leaves you checking your pulse long after the final ball.
West Indies, batting first under gloomy clouds, faced a seaming beast of a pitch. Kyle Jamieson’s opening salvo was pure poetry: three maidens in four overs, the ball darting like it had a vendetta. Keacy Carty flickered briefly, carving Blair Tickner for boundaries, but another Jamieson pearler—5-2-12-2 by the end of his spell—sent him packing.
Enter Shai Hope, the unflappable anchor who turned this muddle into a masterclass. By the 24th over, at 130 for 6, it looked bleak for the visitors. Yet Hope, now in beast mode, farmed the strike and unleashed: pulling deep over midwicket, straight-driving for his ton.
Romario Shepherd chipped in with back-to-back sixes off Henry, and Matthew Forde bullied Jamieson for 19 in an over. Hope’s 109* (69 balls, 13 fours, 4 sixes) dragged West Indies to 247 for 9—a total that screamed “defendable” on this gremlin of a surface. For more on Hope’s form against the Black Caps, ESPNcricinfo’s match report breaks it down innings by innings.
Insert Image Placeholder: Devon Conway slices the ball away. This mid-action shot from a low, pitch-level angle—almost like you’re crouched in the slips—captures Conway’s wristy flick in gritty detail, with rain beads frozen mid-air for that personal “I was there in the drizzle” vibe. Descriptive alt text: “Devon Conway’s defiant slice through point amid Napier’s downpour, New Zealand vs West Indies 2nd ODI.”
The Chase: From Scratchy Start to Santner’s Spark
Chasing 248 on a deck that gripped and spat, New Zealand’s openers Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra wore the look of men navigating a minefield. Matthew Forde’s first over? A maiden, the ball zipping both ways. Conway scratched a single off the fourth, Ravindra a brace, and early boundaries felt like luxuries—Conway’s crisp square drive off Jayden Seales, Ravindra’s monstrous six over deep midwicket.
They weathered the storm, though, piecing together New Zealand’s first ODI century opening stand since 2020 (106 off 99 balls). Ravindra, flowing now, pulled Forde for six and slog-swept Roston Chase into the stands for his sixth ODI fifty. Conway joined the party, yanking Gudakesh Motie over square leg. At 194 for 5, needing 54 off 29, the air thickened.
With 40 needed off 18, Santner turned on Forde—4, 6, 4—for 18 in an over.Santner’s cover drive sealed it with three balls left, West Indies’ bowlers slumping in disbelief. Seales? He hurled his cap, collapsed—raw heartbreak, the sort that lingers.
This wasn’t just a win; it locked in a 2-0 series lead, New Zealand’s 11th straight home bilateral ODI triumph. For Santner’s growing rep as a finisher, this ICC feature nails his evolution.
Hope’s Lone Stand: A Century That Almost Was
Flip the script to West Indies’ innings, and it’s Hope’s show that steals the sidebar. Anchoring from No. 4, he watched his top order crumble—Campbell edged, Carty lbw, Auguste skyed—yet he farmed ruthlessly. That pull off Tickner for 6000 runs? Chills.
Arms raised, crowd roaring—his 19th ODI hundred, first vs NZ. West Indies’ fielding lapses (that no-ball) and bowling under pressure echoed their first ODI woes. Deeper insights? BBC Sport’s player ratings rate Hope a perfect 10, Santner a sneaky 9.
Insert Image Placeholder: Shai Hope made 109 not out off 69 balls. From a spectator’s-eye view, peeking through chain-link fence gaps for an intimate, almost voyeuristic feel—like eavesdropping on his focus. Descriptive alt text: “Shai Hope’s triumphant century pose, helmet off in the Napier mist, West Indies vs New Zealand 2nd ODI.”
Why This Series Feels Like Vintage Kiwi-WI Rivalry
These games aren’t decided by scorecards; they’re etched in the close calls, the what-ifs. West Indies? Hope’s genius masked deeper cracks: early collapses, death-over wobbles.
New Zealand’s seam attack—Jamieson (3-44), Bracewell (4-42)—dictated terms, but it’s the batting depth that shines. As the third ODI looms, the hosts eye a clean sweep, while WI chase pride. For series previews and stats, Fox Cricket’s tour hub has you covered.
This thriller? Pure cricket joy, the kind that reminds you why we love the game’s chaos. What’s your take—Santner the unsung hero, or Hope robbed by the pitch? Drop a comment below.
