img source:sportswhoop.com
New Zealand Vs West Indies 2020
West Indies cricket team is presently in New Zealand to take part in two Test matches and the three Twenty20 international matches. The two-Test series in this ongoing New Zealand Vs West Indies 2020 is going to be a part of the 2019-2021 ICC World Test Championship.
• The match schedule
The touring West Indies have participated in two practice matches against the New Zealand A team at the beginning of the series, the first one from 20th to 22nd November, and the second match between the two teams took place from 26th to 29th November. Both the matches, held at Queenstown, ended in a draw.
The opening Twenty20 international match of this West Indies Tour of New Zealand 2020 series was held on 27th November at Eden Park while the 2nd and 3rd T20 international match was scheduled to be staged at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui on 29th and 30th November, respectively. However, out of the two-Test matches the opening Test took place from 3rd to 7th December at Seddon Park in Hamilton. The 2nd Test match will be held at Basin Reserve Wellington from 11th to 15th December.
• New Zealand Vs West Indies 2020 squads
Under the captaincy of Jason Holder, the West Indies test squad comprises Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Shimron Hetmayer, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Joshua Da Silva, Daren Bravo, John Campbell, Rakeem Cornwall, Shannon Gabriel, Chemar Holder, Keemo Paul, Nkrumah Bonner, Jayden Seals, and Shayne Moseley.
For the Twenty20 international series, Cricket West Indies has chosen Kieron Pollard as the captain of the team. The other selected players are Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmayer, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, Hayden Walsh, Dwayne Bravo, Fabian Allen, Andre Fletcher, Brandon King, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Oshane Thomas, and Kesrick Williams.
On the other hand, New Zealand 2020 squad in the two-Test series is led by Kane Williamson while the other members of the team are: Trent Boult, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Will Young, Mitchell Santner (Stand by), Tom Blundell, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Ajaz Patel, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, and Colin De Grandhomme.
The Kiwis who participated in the T20 international matches were: Martin Guptill, TN Seifert, DP Conway, GD Philips, LRPL Taylor, JDS Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson, LH Ferguson, and HK Bennet.
• Kiwis the king in Twenty20
New Zealand started the three-match T20 International series in style, trouncing West Indies by five wickets in Auckland. The match was decided on the Dakwat Lewis method where Lockie Ferguson hogged the limelight with the ball, registering a sparkling figure of 4-0-21-5! But even though Ferguson was chosen player of the match, Kieron Pollard also had a big contribution in building up West Indies innings by scoring a solid 75 runs off only 37 balls.
New Zealand won the two-match T20 International series by securing the victory in the second match also in Mount Maunganui. Glenn Philips produced the blitzkrieg on the 22 yards, striking a magnificent 108 off only 51 deliveries with 10 fours and 8 sixes! Batting first the Kiwis struck a mammoth 238 runs at the loss of three wickets. In reply, the Caribbean surrendered with 166 runs at the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs.
The third T20 international match, held in Mount Maunganui had to be canceled following torrential rain only after 2.2 overs. West Indies started batting and their score was 25 runs at the loss of Brandon King's wicket.
• Williamson stars in Hamilton
Kane Williamson, the Kiwi skipper for the two-Test series in this New Zealand Vs West Indies 2020 series grabbed the spotlight, inscribing a masterful 251 runs to guide New Zealand setting a huge total of 519 runs at the seven wickets (declared) in the first innings that finally forced the Caribbean to accept the defeat by an innings and 134 runs! West Indies were all out for 138 in their first innings and 247 in their second innings. It was New Zealand's biggest victory against West Indies so far. Williamson's immaculate double hundred was perfectly accompanied by two Kiwi bowlers, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner. Southee cracked the Caribbean in their first innings by scalping four wickets giving away only 35 runs while Wagner captured four wickets also in the second innings to compel West Indies collapse to 247 only.
Still, West Indies has a chance of leveling the Test series if they can win the impending second Test, commencing on 11th December at Wellington.
• Wellington without Williamson
Kane Williamson will not available in the impending second Test against West Indies, to be held in Wellington from 11th December to 15th December. The Kiwi captain is going on paternity leave as his partner Sarah Raheem is expected to give birth to their first child at the end of this month. Gary Stead the coach of the team does not seem to be much concerned about the absence of his captain who has been in tremendous form, scoring a double hundred in the opening Test. Stead has stated that Will Young will be replacing Kane in the second Test but the emergence of Kyle Jamieson with both bat and ball has been increasing the team's confidence. Stead has pinned hope on Jamieson pointing out that his all-around performance has been truly inspiring for the team in near future.
• Holder asks players to look them in the mirror!
West Indies captain Jason Holder is deeply saddened by their performance following a massive defeat against the Kiwis in the first Test. The captain is precisely frustrated with the poor show by batsmen and he has asked them to look in the mirror! He has held inconsistent batting as the key factor behind their collapse in the last couple of years. According to reports published in ESPN Cricinfo holder said, "We have talked a lot. We have made a lot of promises. But the time has come now to deliver. The top-order batsmen must have to stand up now." Ahead of the second Test in Wellington West Indies skipper had however all praise for Jermaine Blackwood and Alazarri Joseph for their gallant effort to earn some pride for the team when they resisted Kiwi bowlers with their 155-run partnership in the second innings of the first Test. West Indies were all out for 247 in the second innings. Blackwood struck 104 while Joseph scored 86.
