There are wins, and then there are wins that age you. New Zealand's one-wicket triumph over West Indies in the fourth ODI at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown on Sunday fell firmly into the latter category. Chasing 189, the Black Caps collapsed to 180 for nine before captain Mitch Santner — unbeaten throughout the carnage around him — guided the tail home with 44.1 overs consumed, sealing a result that will have shifted the series outright odds quite considerably in New Zealand's favour.
West Indies Set a Competitive but Chaseable Target
New Zealand won the toss and opted to field, a decision that looked reasonable when the home side were reduced to 81 for six inside 21 overs. Amir Jangoo was the standout for West Indies, contributing 51 from 73 deliveries to give the innings some backbone. Alzarri Joseph added a handy unbeaten 9 near the close, and late resistance pushed the total to 188 all out from 44.4 overs — a score that always looked gettable, but not without a fight on a surface that offered the bowlers something throughout.
For New Zealand, Santner was the pick of the attack, returning figures of three for 36 from his full ten-over allocation. Matt Fisher chipped in with three wickets of his own, while Michael Bracewell took two to help keep the hosts under 200. It was disciplined bowling, but as it turned out, the real work still lay ahead.
New Zealand's Chase Falls Apart at the Seams
At 142 for four, New Zealand were well placed. Mark Chapman had done the heavy lifting with 80 from 82 balls, a composed and commanding innings that looked to have set up a comfortable finish. But Gudakesh Motie had other ideas. The West Indies spinner ripped through the middle and lower order, claiming five wickets in total as New Zealand's chase unravelled spectacularly. Bracewell went for 32, then Smith, Duffy, and Fisher all fell cheaply, leaving the tourists teetering on the brink at 180 for nine with the target still nine runs away.
Santner the Unlikely Hero
Santner had been in throughout much of the collapse, quietly accumulating from one end while partners came and went. His 34 from 56 balls was hardly a cameo of fireworks — a strike rate below 61 tells its own story — but in the circumstances it was precisely what was required. With Jayden Lennox holding firm at the non-striker's end without scoring, Santner manoeuvred New Zealand across the line, completing a win that few watching would have predicted once the ninth wicket fell. Alzarri Joseph, who finished with one for 23 from ten impressively economical overs, will wonder how West Indies let this one slip.
Series Picture and What Comes Next
This result means the series balance now shifts meaningfully towards New Zealand heading into the final match. For those following the betting markets, New Zealand will be strong favourites to wrap up the series, while West Indies will need to regroup quickly — particularly in their batting order, which failed to convert a solid foundation into a truly daunting total. Motie's five-wicket haul was a reminder of his quality, but the Caribbean side will need others to step up if they are to level things up. As a coach, I'd be asking West Indies hard questions about their middle-order depth going into the decider.
