The West Indies bowled superbly in defense of a moderate total to beat New Zealand by seven runs on Wednesday night in the first game of a five-match Twenty20 series.
Captain Shai Hope top-scored with 53 from 39 balls as the West Indies made 164-6 after losing the toss and batting first on a pitch that was two-paced and unpredictable.
Roston Chase then bowled four excellent overs of off-spin to claim 3-26 and Jayden Seales took 3-32 in the historic victory.
New Zealand were going well at 70-2 in the tenth over, before losing seven wickets for 37 runs to slump to 107-9 in the 17th over.
The match seemed over but New Zealand captain Mitch Santner fanned home fans’ hopes with an outstanding display of power hitting as he made 55 from 28 balls.
Santner hit four fours and a six from the 18th over bowled by Matthew Forde, then three fours from the first three balls of the 19th over from Jason Holder.
New Zealand entered the final over needing 20 to win and Santner hit the third ball from Romario Shepherd for six.
But Santner couldn’t keep up the assault, taking only two runs from the next two balls before hitting a boundary from the final delivery.
It was the West Indies first T20 win in New Zealand since Boxing Day 2008 when they won in a super over following a tie. It was also the lowest score defended at Eden Park, with it peculiar dimension and short straight boundaries.
Earlier The West Indies were 32-2 after the first power play.
Hope reached his ninth T20 half century with a six off Zak Foulkes’ bowling, then was clean bowled next ball swinging across the line at a delivery that stayed low.
Roston Chase (28) and Rovman Powell (33) put on 49 for the fifth wicket. Powell hit two fours and two sixes in a 23-ball knock, giving impetus to the innings as the West Indies added 53 in the last five overs.
The teams meet again at the same venue on Thursday night (2:15 a.m. Barbados Time).
