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Shimron Hetmyer struck an unbeaten 69 off 64 balls and shared a 95-run fifth-wicket stand with Sherfane Rutherford (61) as West Indies chased down 269 to beat New Zealand by two wickets in the fifth and final ODI at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown — a consolation win in a series New Zealand claimed 3-2.
Bridgetown, Barbados: New Zealand had already pocketed the series 3-1. The trophy was theirs regardless of Tuesday night’s result, and Jayden Lennox — the wiry fast bowler who had been a revelation on this tour — had already been confirmed as Player of the Series after bagging 14 wickets across the five matches. But cricket, as it so often does at Kensington Oval, refused to go quietly. West Indies, stung by their agonising one-wicket defeat in the previous game, came out with something to prove. For 47.3 overs, they made New Zealand feel every one of those 269 runs.
New Zealand Build a Platform
Sent into bat under the Barbados floodlights, New Zealand were anchored by a trio of composed half-centuries. Tom Latham top-scored with 69 while Nick Kelly and Will Young contributed with 64 and 56 respectively — a trio of measured knocks that gave the innings its spine without ever threatening to break it wide open. New Zealand posted a challenging total of 268 for nine in their innings, the highest first-innings score of the five-match series.
For West Indies, Alzarri Joseph and Vitel Lawes were the pick of the bowlers with two wickets each. Lennox, typically dangerous with the new ball, was contained by a disciplined NZ middle order, though he finished with 3 for 35 — the standout figures of the innings. A slow over-rate penalty in the final over cost New Zealand an additional fielder inside the circle in the last ten balls, a small but telling detail that added to the pressure on the West Indies bowling group.
A Crawl, Then a Sprint
West Indies’ chase started on a slow note, with Keacy Carty’s 20 off 54 balls being the slowest innings of 20 or more by a West Indian in ODIs since Marlon Samuels’s 25 off 65 against Pakistan in July 2013. The top order misfired, and with the required run rate climbing steadily through the middle overs, New Zealand’s spinners — Santner economical as ever — began to squeeze.
West Indies came out all guns blazing, racing to almost 70 runs at the end of the first 10 overs. But once the early momentum was checked, the innings wobbled. It took Sherfane Rutherford and Shimron Hetmyer to truly turn the game.
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Rutherford and Hetmyer Break the Back of the Chase
Rutherford and Hetmyer led a stunning recovery for the West Indies, with their fifth-wicket partnership adding 95 runs in 90 balls. The duo tackled the New Zealand spinners with confidence, bringing the required run rate down significantly. Rutherford was the aggressor, muscling the ball to all parts before departing for 61.
Drama, however, wasn’t far away. Rutherford departed for 61 and the visitors exploited the loose end as Motie, Forde, and Joseph all returned to the pavilion in quick succession. Jacob Duffy’s double strike in the 45th over gave New Zealand a glimmer of hope as he dismissed both Rutherford and Motie on consecutive deliveries. With three wickets needed and the tail exposed, the Kensington Oval held its breath.
Hetmyer, though, was not for moving. He hit Duffy for two sixes in the final overs of the game, sealing a thrilling win for the West Indies. Jayden Seales then delivered the coup de grâce as the West Indies got over the line. West Indies won by 2 wickets with 15 balls remaining, Hetmyer finishing unbeaten on 69 off 64 balls — a Player of the Match performance that encapsulated everything that makes him such a dangerous finisher.
Series Verdict
New Zealand take the series 3-2 in a result that does the tourists immense credit. They were outplayed in Providence in the opener, regrouped to dominate three matches in succession, and held on for a close finish in the series decider despite losing the dead rubber. Jayden Lennox was the pick of New Zealand’s bowlers with figures of 3 for 35 in this match, and his 14-wicket haul across the series earned him the Player of the Series award — a remarkable debut tour for a bowler who was barely known outside New Zealand domestic circles six months ago.
West Indies are currently 10th in the ICC men’s ODI team rankings and are now all-but certain to have to go through the qualifier for the 2027 World Cup. Tuesday night’s win is a Band-Aid on a larger wound — but Hetmyer’s defiance, at least, is a reminder of the match-winning talent that still resides in this dressing room.
Result: West Indies won by 2 wickets (with 15 balls remaining)
Player of the Match: Shimron Hetmyer (WI) — 69* (64)
Player of the Series: Jayden Lennox (NZ) — 14 wickets
Series Result: New Zealand won the series 3-2
Scorecard Summary:
New Zealand 268/9 (50 overs) — Latham 69, Kelly 64, Young 56; Joseph 2/38 wkts, Lawes 2/63 wkts
West Indies 269/8 (47.3 overs) — Rutherford 61, Hetmyer 69*; Lennox 3/35, Duffy 3/67
