In a thrilling encounter at Saxton Oval, New Zealand emerged victorious over the West Indies by nine runs in the third T20I. This win in Nelson means New Zealand now leads the five-match series 2-1, following their triumph in the second match, while the West Indies previously claimed victory in the first.

After winning the toss, New Zealand opted to bat first and set a challenging target of 177 for 9. Devon Conway was a standout performer for the hosts, scoring a commendable 56 runs. Daryl Mitchell supported well with 41 runs, but the New Zealand innings faltered in a dramatic final phase, losing six wickets for just 31 runs in their last five overs. The West Indies’ bowlers put in a disciplined performance, with Matthew Forde and Jason Holder each taking two wickets, restricting New Zealand’s scoring efforts.

The West Indies’ response began poorly, unravelling to 88 for 8 by the 13th over, putting them in a precarious position. However, a late comeback led by Romario Shepherd, who contributed 49 runs off 34 balls, and Shamar Springer with 39 runs, saw them inch closer to the target. In a nail-biting finish, the West Indies required 12 runs off the final over, with Shepherd and Akeal Hosein at the crease.

Pace bowler Kyle Jamieson delivered an exceptional final over, conceding only two runs from the first four balls. He then claimed the crucial wicket of Shepherd, who was caught at long-off on the penultimate ball of the match, sealing the win for New Zealand. The West Indies’ batting struggles were evident, with their top order faltering and at one point finding themselves at 47 for 2 at the end of the powerplay and then falling apart in the middle overs.