Rain stalls New Zealand progress at Sabina Park
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The opening contest of the three-match Twenty20 series between West Indies and New Zealand has been interrupted by rain with the ‘Black Caps’ seemingly set for a big target at 95-2 after 11.2 overs at Sabina Park.
West Indies, rated seventh in the world, are coming off a 1-4 series loss to number one ranked India.
The hosts won the toss and opted to bowl first, but that decision is proving rather painful against a full strength number-five ranked New Zealand outfit.
With the pitch dry and hard, and producing some degree of bounce, New Zealand’s opening pair of Martin Guptill and Devon Conway took the West Indies bowlers to task, piling on 62 before both were removed minutes apart in the eighth over by local boy, Odean Smith.
The pacer first had Guptill (16) brilliantly caught by Shimron Hetmyer in the deep, after which Conway’s missed-timed pull looped to wicketkeeper Devon Thomas.
However, captain Kane Williamson, and Glenn Phillips, unbeaten on 15 and 16 respectively, sustained the pressure, before the heavens opened.
Teams: West Indies — Shamarh Brooks, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Devon Thomas, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh, Obed McCoy.
New Zealand — Devon Conway, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.