Player of the Match
Player of the Match

That's all from us for now. On behalf of the team at Cricinfo, it's goodbye from, me, Rvel Zahid. Thank you for joining us and enjoy the rest of your night!

Mitchell Santner, New Zealand captain & Player of the Match: Yeah, it was pretty chaotic, especially at the end. I think you just try to chip away at the total as much as you can. Partnerships of 10 or 15 at that stage went a long way. We probably shouldn't have let it get that close, but it was nice to get over the line. Yeah, for sure. It was a little bit tacky this morning, and the seamers started us off pretty well. Then the spinners got into their work. We were very happy to bowl them out for 188. But we know how good the West Indies bowlers are, and they were pretty good today. I guess that's always the challenge. It's part of the role when you're batting with the lower order. Because the target wasn't massive, there wasn't a lot of scoreboard pressure. It was just trying to pick off runs when you could and not expose the tail too much. Alzarri was flying in and getting it to reverse, which was pretty challenging. And then Motie bowled outstandingly. A five-for out there was very good. I just said, "You play straight and block it, and I'll try to get the 12 runs." Just simple. Another performance like that. The pitch will probably play similarly; a day-night game under lights here, and it can skid on a bit. If we bowl first again, it's about doing the same job with the ball and sticking to the simple plans we've executed throughout the series. Then with the bat, we know how good they are up top with the ball. Alzarri, Seales, and Fordy were outstanding as well. We know we're in for another big game

Shai Hope, West Indies captain: Yeah, it was absolute theatre, as you mentioned, if you're a neutral. Well, again, under par. Just had to be frank about it. Batting first in the Caribbean is always going to be a challenge, but it's certainly not a 180-type of challenge. I still feel as though we need to apply ourselves a lot better. We're still not really understanding and adapting to the conditions as fast as we should. I just believe that as elite batters that we want to call ourselves, guys who've been playing for quite some time, we still need to show a bit more impetus, especially at the top. We still need to take more responsibility, myself included. But yeah, it's definitely not a 180 surface. It's still challenging here at Kensington, as you can see; we still gave the New Zealanders a fight. But 180 is not going to be enough when you're playing against the second-best team in the world. We've got to improve on that. Yeah, for sure. When you look at the bowlers and ask them to come and do a job, 180 is not much you can ask the guys to defend. But they always put their hands up, so I must commend them for the fight every single time. Motie; it's great to see him back in good form. He's bowling really well. Then Lawes, obviously continuing from Guyana. Alzarri being his very consistent self. He bowled a really good spell to bring us back into the game. Credit must be given to the bowlers for the fight. But again, the batters, we just need to put our hands up. Thanks again for the support. We always love when you come out to support us here at Kensington. It's home for me, and I'm sure I can speak on the other guys' behalf as well. Every time they come to Kensington, they always feel loved. They always feel the vibes. So thank you for the support. Unfortunately, we couldn't get that win for the great man, but hopefully we can turn things around on Tuesday.

West Indies made a remarkable comeback after the rain delay and turned the tables in dramatic fashion. Motie was the star of the show, picking up his first five-wicket haul in ODIs, finishing with 5 for 47. Forde chipped in with a couple while Seales and Joseph picked up one wicket apiece. An emotional day for West Indies. They would feel they made Sir Garfield Sobers proud with the way they fought but it was New Zealand who prevailed in the end and circumvented through all the obstacles. There was one man who stood in their way and refused to buckle under pressure; Mitchell Santner. His unbeaten 34 helped New Zealand eke out a hard-fought win. Chapman was all about swagger and his gung-ho approach put New Zealand in a commanding position. Little did he know that his team would be in a spot of bother not long after. Bracewell added a valuable 32 to keep the innings together. West Indies needed more runs on the board and that early collapse came back to haunt them. Motie was undoubtedly their standout performer; he scored a quickfire 41 with the bat before roaring back to claim five wickets and drag his team right back into the contest

Jim: "Imagine watching people kick a ball around for two hours instead and missing out on a game like this! "

Ashok : "This match remind us 1997 series. "

Neil: "Huge effort from Santner. He really is a fitting replacement for Dan Vettori with both the bat and the ball"

44.1
1
Seales to Santner, 1 run, Around the wicket, back of a length and got it to curve back from outside off, spanked high but not entirely mighty, however, it will do the job as there is no one at deep extra cover; the duo picks up a couple and Santner breaks West Indians hearts! Gets his team to the doorstep of victory and as a result, New Zealand have an unassailable 3-1 lead but what a game of cricket, it was an absolute thriller! Shai Hope rallies his troops and they are in a huddle. The series is settled

END OF OVER:
44 | (maiden) | NZ: 188/9 (1 run required from 36 balls, RR: 4.27, RRR: 0.16)

  • Jayden Lennox0 (10b)
  • Mitchell Santner33 (55b)
  • Vitel Lawes6-1-32-0
  • Jayden Seales9-2-41-1
43.6
0
Lawes to Lennox, no run, Prolonged appeal for an lbw and Ahsan Raza shakes his head! It's been a marvelous over! They have to consult the third umpire. Thumping the pads. Lands outside off, impact is outside and the original decision stands. Spot on from Ahsan under pressure in a tight game
43.5
0
Lawes to Lennox, no run, Lovely legbreak again, not giving up, never say never, straightens on middle and he blocks firmly
43.4
0
Lawes to Lennox, no run, Lobbed up full and slanting in at middle and leg, driven back to the bowler
43.3
0
Lawes to Lennox, no run, Pulls his length back and gets some turn across off, opens the face and slices it to point
43.2
0
Lawes to Lennox, no run, Bowls a delicious legbreak turning across off, blocked to cover towards the packed off-side field
43.1
0
Lawes to Lennox, no run, Tossed up just outside off, very very close to the bat, sent upstairs to check if it kisses the outside edge, nothing on the ultra-edge

END OF OVER:
43 | 2 Runs | NZ: 188/9 (1 run required from 42 balls, RR: 4.37, RRR: 0.14)

  • Mitchell Santner33 (55b)
  • Jayden Lennox0 (4b)
  • Jayden Seales9-2-41-1
  • Matthew Forde9-1-44-2
42.6
0
Seales to Santner, no run, Bit short and angling back in at off, lunges at it and watchfully deflects it to cover, you know what, it doesn't matter who wins, West Indies would be very proud of the way they fought today, Sir Garry Sobers will be very proud watching somewhere from the heavens; they have fought valiantly and took the game down to the wire, playing in the typical quintessential West Indies way which we all yearn to see
42.5
2
Seales to Santner, 2 runs, That was the moment, West Indies cannot believe it! Fans stunned, Sammy shellshocked! It was agonisly in the air, two men were converging at cover, they both made a meal of it, and they are down crestfallen, Greaves was one of them, they know this was the moment to seize! Long faces, deflated! Let's take a look again, sliced this high chest ball in the air, fielders had an eternity to catch, both players bumping into each other, can happen in pressure situations, but it's very hard to come back from here. Seales cannot believe it, watching the heavens incredulously
42.4
0
Seales to Santner, no run, Pearler of a delivery! Hands on his head. Bit short and zinging back in at off-stump, tries to carve it away and attempts an expansive drive, doesn't connect, fielders coming in close
42.3
0
Seales to Santner, no run, Touch short and plugging back in at Sannter, takes the outer part of the blade and deflects away to backward point, on the cusp of a victory. Why don't they try yorkers?

Jack: "Salute you Rvel for commentating this thriller over the random game of football happening in America somewhere!" What match? I have no idea what you're talking about (chuckles)

42.2
0
Seales to Santner, no run, Shortish and floating outside off, behind it resolutely blocked into the off-side, his grit and defiance are praiseworthy

Mark: "This would be NZ's longest batting tail for some time. Definitely a lot more reliant on the top order doing the job than usual."

Michael : "Absorbing, low scoring and close matches over the entire series. Can't look away. Shushing all these people talking about some kick ball thing in the office. "

42.1
0
Seales to Santner, no run, Around the wicket, hammered short and outside off, opens the face and dabs it away behind point

END OF OVER:
42 | 5 Runs | NZ: 186/9 (3 runs required from 48 balls, RR: 4.42, RRR: 0.37)

  • Jayden Lennox0 (4b)
  • Mitchell Santner31 (49b)
  • Matthew Forde9-1-44-2
  • Jayden Seales8-2-39-1
41.6
0
Forde to Lennox, no run, Picks up the little shortish ball whizzing in from a wide off-stump line, he arches out and blocks it to short cover, not quite on target, got to get closer to the stumps, go for the poles, try a yorker, gave width and he keeps it out easily.
41.5
1
Forde to Santner, 1 run, Wide of the crease, lands it short and outside off, cross-batted shot to cover fielder who was at edge of the 30-yard ring, takes a single and exposes Lennox for one ball, Sammy cannot watch it anymore
41.4
4
Forde to Santner, FOUR, Everything so right about that stroke! Shorter on off, doesn't bounce much, excellent timing, gorgeously pumped it to midwicket for a four, just a boundary away from a win. It's now or never for West Indies. Just need a W and that's all. What a timely boundary from Santner; he is not going to back down, his resolve, self-belief is why New Zealand are just a stroke away from a win. He has defied the odds, stood tall in adversity
41.3
0
Forde to Santner, no run, Got to admire Santner's composure, leadership, temperament, and self-efficacy! Gets a back of a length ball just outside off, belts it to long-off, waiting for an opportunity to eke out a boundary from somewhere
41.2
0
Forde to Santner, no run, Fans on the edge of their seats! Could be anybody's game. Wide of the crease, lands it short and shapes it back at off, opens the face and jabs it to deep cover-point
41.1
0
Forde to Santner, no run, Around the wicket, back of a length and cross-seam, curling wide of off, flings the bat out, trying to poke at it with soft hands, doesn't connect, pressure!

New Zealand 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st0HM NichollsWA Young
2nd6WA YoungNF Kelly
3rd40MS ChapmanWA Young
4th31TWM LathamMS Chapman
5th65MG BracewellMS Chapman
6th7MG BracewellMJ Santner
7th17MJ SantnerNG Smith
8th1MJ SantnerJA Duffy
9th13MJ SantnerMJ Fisher
10th9MJ SantnerJR Lennox