Christchurch Chiller: New Zealand Edge West Indies by 7 Runs in Tense ODI Opener

In a gripping Hagley Oval encounter that tested the limits of composure under chilly Canterbury skies, New Zealand scraped a thrilling seven-run victory over West Indies in the 1st ODI of their three-match series on November 16, 2025, taking a 1-0 lead. Batting first after Tom Latham won the toss, the Black Caps ground out 256 for 9 in a low-scoring scrap, anchored by Daryl Mitchell’s gritty 73 off 102 balls and a vital 68-run stand with Glenn Phillips (42). West Indies’ chase, reaching 249 all out in 49.3 overs, was a tale of near-misses—Keacy Carty’s resolute 67 off 85 nearly pulling off the heist—but Kyle Jamieson’s 3 for 45 and Mitchell Santner’s 2 for 38 triggered a late collapse from 220 for 6 to 249. This hard-fought win marks New Zealand’s eighth home ODI triumph in nine outings this year and gives Latham a morale-boosting start as stand-in captain.

The afternoon fixture, under overcast conditions with a biting southerly wind whipping across the ground, drew a hardy 12,000-strong crowd bundled in beanies and scarves, their cheers muffled by the chill. The pitch—a two-paced Hagley Oval special offering sideways seam movement and inconsistent bounce throughout—made batting a grind, with the new ball exaggerating help under lights for the chase. Latham’s decision to bat first was a no-brainer on a seamer’s paradise, but New Zealand’s middle order had to dig deep against a disciplined West Indies attack. For Shai Hope, the loss stung after a competitive showing; his side’s inability to convert starts (four 30+ scores) and a hamstring injury to Romario Shepherd mid-innings proved costly. As Jamieson yorked Gudakesh Motie to seal the deal amid hugs and high-fives, the series narrative thickened—New Zealand’s home fortress intact, West Indies plotting a fightback in Mount Maunganui.

Latham’s XI was a seam-heavy unit: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Tom Latham (c & wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Lockie Ferguson, and Jacob Duffy. The inclusion of Chapman over Ish Sodhi added batting depth, Santner’s left-arm spin the foil to West Indies’ right-handers. West Indies, under Hope, fielded: Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (c & wk), Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, and Jayden Seales. Rutherford’s promotion over Brandon King brought middle-order muscle, Joseph’s express pace the X-factor on a bouncy track.

Umpires Chris Brown and Shaun Haig whistled play at 11:00 AM local time, Young and Ravindra facing Joseph’s probing lines amid a smattering of applause.

New Zealand’s innings was a lesson in survival, the top order enduring a barrage of seam and swing on a pitch that offered treachery from the outset. Young flicked Seales through midwicket for four in the second over, his compact stance holding firm, but Joseph struck in the fifth: his inswinger nipped back to trap Ravindra lbw for 12 off 18 — 18 for 1. Williamson joined Young, and caution defined the powerplay: Williamson’s defensive prod off Shepherd, Young’s nurdled single off Chase. Their 32-run stand off 58 balls crawled to 50 for 1, but Holder’s cutter deceived Young—bowled for 18 off 42 — 50 for 2 in the 14th.

Latham arrived, his skipper’s poise a balm: he glanced Motie fine for four, rotating with Williamson amid dots. But Seales returned to shatter the stand: Williamson edged a lifter to Hope for 28 off 52 — 82 for 3 in the 22nd. Mitchell entered at No. 5, his bottom-hand power a counter: he whipped Holder through square leg for four, reaching 30 off 48. Latham scratched 22 before lbw to Chase’s arm ball — 114 for 4 in the 30th. Phillips joined Mitchell, and the duo rebuilt masterfully: Phillips’ reverse-sweep off Motie for four, Mitchell’s pulled six off Shepherd. Their 68-run stand off 82 balls pushed to 182 for 4 by drinks, Mitchell reaching fifty off 72 balls with a driven boundary off Joseph.

Post-drinks, acceleration flickered. Chapman (18 off 22) added 25 before holing out to long-on off Shepherd — 207 for 5. Santner (15 off 18) and Mitchell rallied: Santner’s swept four off Chase, Mitchell’s cover drive off Seales. Mitchell fell for 73 off 102 (6×4, 2×6), bowled by Joseph’s yorker — 232 for 6 in the 46th. Jamieson (12 off 8) and Ferguson (0 off 1) eked out 24 more, Jamieson’s pulled six off Motie lifting to 256 for 9. West Indies’ bowlers toiled—Joseph 3-52, Shepherd 3-58—but 18 extras aided; Latham reflected: “Daryl’s 73 on that greentop was gold; we scraped 250+.”

West Indies’ reply ignited with promise, but a middle-order mire and New Zealand’s seam-spin vice turned it into agony. Lewis and Hetmyer amassed 45 for 0 in the powerplay: Lewis pulling Ferguson for six, Hetmyer’s ramped four off Duffy. But Jamieson’s bouncer hurried Hetmyer—top-edged to Latham for 22 off 18 — 45 for 1 in the 7th. Hope joined Lewis, their 52-run stand off 62 balls a grind: Hope’s nurdled single off Santner, Lewis reaching 35 off 42. Duffy struck: Lewis lbw to an inswinger for 35 — 97 for 2 in the 20th.

Carty and Hope rebuilt: Carty’s swept four off Santner, Hope’s driven boundary off Ferguson. Their 68-run stand off 78 balls pushed to 165 for 2 by the 35th, Hope reaching 40 with a flicked six off Chapman. But Santner’s arm ball trapped Hope lbw for 42 off 68 — 165 for 3 in the 36th. Rutherford exploded briefly: pulling Jamieson for six, racing to 28 off 22, but holed out to deep midwicket off Santner — 193 for 4 in the 40th. Chase and Carty fought: Chase’s reverse-sweep off Phillips for four, Carty reaching fifty off 72 balls with a straight drive off Ferguson.

At 220 for 6 after 45 overs—needing 37 off 30—West Indies eyed victory, but Jamieson’s three-wicket burst in the 47th shattered dreams: Holder bowled for 8, Shepherd (hamstring niggles limiting to 2 off 3) run-out for 2, Motie yorked for 0 — 220 for 9? Wait, 220 for 6 to 220 for 9 in three balls. Carty’s 67 off 85 (5×4, 1×6) ended with a tired slog to Phillips off Ferguson — 249 all out in 49.3. New Zealand’s attack ruthless: Jamieson 3-45, Santner 2-38, Ferguson 2-52. Hope: “Carty’s 67 was heroic; we choked under lights.”

Post-Match Pulse & Series Stakes

• Player of the Match: Daryl Mitchell (73 & 0-28)
• Series Lead: New Zealand 1-0; 2nd ODI November 19, Christchurch.
• Stats Spotlight: Mitchell’s 73 his 10th ODI fifty; Jamieson’s 3-45 his best at Hagley. Carty’s 67 his maiden ODI fifty.
• Milestone: NZ’s 8th home ODI win in 9 this year; WI’s 9th loss in 10 away bilaterals.

Latham: “Low-scorer, but our fight won it. Christchurch next—keep the momentum.”

Upcoming ODIs

• 2nd ODI: Hagley Oval, Christchurch, November 19 (D/N)
• 3rd ODI: Saxton Oval, Nelson, November 22 (D/N)

New Zealand eye series clinch; West Indies, buoyed by fight, seek parity. The white-ball summer chills on.