Kieron Pollard blasted 75 which included eight sixes but Lockie Ferguson's five-wicket haul and solid contributions from the batsmen helped NZ win.
International cricket returned to the Trans-Tasman in grand style amidst the coronavirus pandemic. While the India vs Australia ODI in Sydney saw the stadium filled to 50 percent capacity, the Twenty20 International in Auckland between New Zealand and the West Indies witnessed a good turnout. New Zealand has overcome the coronavirus pandemic in grand style and they have managed to operate matches with big attendances, be it in Rugby or cricket. The fans present at Eden Park were treated to something spectacular.
New Zealand chose to bowl and they immediately had great success with Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee wrecking the West Indies top order. It needed something special from Windies skipper Kieron Pollard who blasted 75. In a rain-reduced match of 16 overs, New Zealand were boosted by some brilliant batting from Devon Conway, James Neesham and Mitchell Santner as New Zealand ended their five-game losing streak in T20Is on a grand note with a tense five-wicket win in Eden Park to extend their T20I head-to-head advantage against West Indies to 7-3. The second match will be played on Sunday at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui where New Zealand would be looking to seal the three-match T20I series.
1. NZ vs WI 1st T20I Auckland
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New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl in slightly overcast conditions against the West Indies in Eden Park, Auckland. International cricket was coming back in grand style in New Zealand with fans thronging to the stadium after New Zealand had kept the coronavirus carnage down. West Indies, thus, became the first nation to visit two foreign countries amidst the coronavirus pandemic. They had earlier visited England but those matches were played in the bio-secure bubble. (Image credit: AFP Twitter)
2. NZ vs WI 1st T20I Auckland
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Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson gave New Zealand a fantastic start as they ran through the West Indies top order. West Indies were reduced to 59/5 and were in danger of being bowled out for a below-par score on an Eden Park wicket that was flat and where the boundaries were incredibly small. (Image credit: Blackcaps Twitter)
3. NZ vs WI 1st T20I Auckland
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Rain had fallen before the start of the T20I which resulted in a toss delay but no overs were lost. However, in the middle of the innings, the rain fell again and the match was delayed. This forced the game to be cut to 16-overs-per-side, with New Zealand having to chase a revised total at the end of the West Indies innings. (Image credit: Blackcaps Twitter)
4. NZ vs WI 1st T20I Auckland
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Following the break, Kieron Pollard was at his murderous best as he shared a brilliant partnership of 84 with Fabian Allen and a quick 34-run stand with Keemo Paul. Even in IPL 2020, Kieron Pollard was the star in the death overs as he blasted sixes and fours at will. It was his magnificent 75 off 37 balls which included eight sixes that helped West Indies reach 180/7 in 16 overs. Once again, Pollard led from the front in grand style. (Image credit: Twitter)
5. NZ vs WI 1st T20I Auckland
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However, West Indies would have gotten far more than 180 had it not been for the brilliance of Lockie Ferguson. He picked up 5/21 and became the second New Zealand bowler after Tim Southee to take a five-wicket haul in T20Is. Ferguson bowled with guile, pace and tremendous application to ensure the target was not a stiff one for New Zealand. (Image credit: Blackcaps Twitter)
6. NZ vs WI 1st T20I Auckland
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However, New Zealand had to chase a revised target of 176 and that was still in excess of 10 runs per over. New Zealand did not start the chase well with Auckland's own Martin Guptil falling cheaply. Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips regularly struck boundaries and New Zealand were with the run-rate. James Neesham also came in and ensured the pressure did not get to New Zealand. (Image credit: Blackcaps Twitter)
7. NZ vs WI 1st T20I Auckland
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James Neesham and Mitchell Santner were helped by indiscipline from the West Indies bowlers, with Keemo Paul in particular conceding four no-balls in the 14th over of the match which proved to be costly. Santner hit a six each of Cottrell and Kieron Pollard as New Zealand snapped their losing streak in grand style to win by five wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. (Image credit: Blackcaps Twitter)
