A brilliant bowling performance secured a surprising seven-run victory for the West Indies over New Zealand in the first T20 match on Wednesday, despite a spectacular solo effort from Mitchell Santner.

Having arrived in New Zealand only two days earlier, the West Indies struggled on the Eden Park drop-in wicket, which offered some seam and turn to the home bowlers, managing 164/6 from their 20 overs.

The visitors then delivered a precise bowling display to restrict the Black Caps, who needed a remarkable 28-ball 55 from captain Santner to keep the game competitive.

New Zealand Vs West Indies: 1st T20I – Highlights

Santner won the toss and elected to field at a sun-filled Eden Park initially.

The Black Caps struck twice in the power play, with Brandon King and Alick Athanaze falling to Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson, respectively, leaving the West Indies at 32/2 after six overs.

Captain Shai Hope aimed to anchor the innings for the visitors, cautiously starting his innings before increasing the risk by targeting the straight boundaries.

The West Indies were 66/3 halfway through their innings but then scored 34 runs in the next three overs as Hope brought up a 38-ball 50.

He fell on the very next ball, a delivery from Zak Foulkes that stayed low and hit the leg stump as Hope attempted to hoist it over the leg side.

Rovman Powell provided much-needed power for the West Indies, hitting two sixes to reach a 23-ball 33, but his side seemed to be heading towards an under-par score.

Then, it was all West Indies.

Tim Robinson opened the batting for New Zealand alongside Devon Conway, who returned to the XI after Tim Seifert broke a finger while batting in domestic cricket on Sunday.

Seamer Matthew Forde was superb for the West Indies, taking 1-9 from three powerplay overs.

New Zealand struggled to find the boundary, and a double strike by Jayden Seales in the 13th over turned the game in the visitors’ favour, removing Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell within three balls.

Seales finished with 3-32 from his four overs.

A late flurry from Santner gave New Zealand faint hope, but needing 20 from the final over, they fell just short.