McLean Park Miracle: New Zealand Survive West Indies’ Late Surge to Clinch 2nd ODI by 4 Runs

In one of the most edge-of-the-seat finishes of the 2025-26 summer, New Zealand held their nerve to edge West Indies by four runs in the 2nd ODI at McLean Park, Napier, on November 19, sealing a 2-0 series lead and inching closer to a clean sweep. Batting first after Tom Latham won the toss, the Black Caps posted 285 for 8 in a disciplined effort, powered by Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 89 off 98 balls and Glenn Phillips’ counter-attacking 65 off 72. West Indies’ chase of 286 reached a heart-stopping 281 for 9 in 50 overs, with a blistering 78-run ninth-wicket stand off 39 balls between Roston Chase (42* off 25) and Jayden Seales (29* off 13) nearly pulling off an improbable heist, but Mitchell Santner’s 3 for 52 and Kyle Jamieson’s 2 for 48 choked the death overs to defend the total. This pulsating victory—New Zealand’s ninth home ODI win in 10 this year—gives stand-in skipper Latham a commanding series grip, while West Indies, despite the valiant fightback, face a must-win in Nelson to avoid a whitewash.

The day-night thriller, under Napier’s crisp spring sun giving way to floodlit tension, drew a vocal 15,000-strong crowd, their cheers mingling with the Hawkes Bay breeze as the final over unfolded like a noir plot. The pitch—a balanced green-tinged strip offering seam early and even bounce later—turned into a low, slow beast under dew, aiding the chase but rewarding disciplined bowling. Latham’s call to bat first exploited the new ball’s help, but New Zealand’s middle order had to graft against West Indies’ variations. For Shai Hope, the defeat was agonising—a ninth loss in 10 away bilateral ODIs since the 2019 World Cup—exacerbated by Romario Shepherd’s hamstring tweak mid-innings and three dropped catches. As Santner yorked Alzarri Joseph to ignite celebrations, the series narrative sharpened: New Zealand’s home invincibility rolls on, West Indies’ resilience a silver lining in a tough tour. The decider in Nelson on November 22 looms as a redemption shot for the visitors.

Latham’s XI maintained seam depth: 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. Chapman’s retention over Ish Sodhi bolstered the lower order, Santner’s spin the pivot on a gripping track. West Indies, led by 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. Chase’s off-spin over Akeal Hosein’s left-arm angle targeted New Zealand’s right-handers, Joseph’s raw pace the enforcer.

Umpires Wayne Knights and Billy Bowden signaled play at 2:00 PM local time, Young and Ravindra facing Joseph’s thunderbolts amid a building Napier hum.

New Zealand’s innings was a tale of two phases—tentative top-order survival giving way to a middle-order surge on a pitch that seamed like a snake early but flattened post-drinks. Young nurdled Seales through point for a single in the second over, but Joseph struck venomously in the fourth: his inswinger nipped back to bowl Ravindra for 8 off 12 — 12 for 1. Williamson joined Young, their partnership a grind: Williamson’s defensive push off Shepherd, Young’s flicked four off Motie. The powerplay crawled to 38 for 1, boundaries rare—Young’s cover drive off Joseph a brief release—but dots piled up. Holder’s slower ball deceived Young—caught at midwicket for 22 off 48 — 50 for 2 in the 15th.

Latham strode in, his calm anchoring the ship: he glanced Ferguson? No, Seales fine for four, rotating with Williamson. But Motie’s arm ball skidded low to trap Latham lbw for 18 off 32 — 68 for 3 in the 22nd. Mitchell arrived, his resilience key: he whipped Holder through square leg for four, reaching 30 off 52 amid a sedate phase. Williamson scratched 28 before edging Joseph’s lifter to Hope — 96 for 4 in the 28th. Phillips entered aggressively: reverse-sweeping Chase for four, pulling Shepherd for six. Their 68-run stand off 78 balls—Phillips reaching 40 off 52, Mitchell fifty off 78 with a driven boundary off Seales—pushed to 164 for 4 by drinks.

Post-interval, momentum shifted. Chapman (22 off 28) added 32 before holing out to long-on off Shepherd — 196 for 5. Santner (15 off 18) and Mitchell rallied: Santner’s swept four off Motie, Mitchell’s cover drive off Joseph. Mitchell fell for 89 off 98 (8×4, 2×6), bowled by Seales’ yorker — 231 for 6 in the 46th. Jamieson (12 off 8) smashed a six off Holder, but Ferguson (0 off 1) run-out backing up — 245 for 7. Duffy (8* off 4) and Jamieson eked out 40 in the last four overs, Duffy’s late four off Seales closing at 285 for 8. West Indies’ attack fought—Seales 3-58, Shepherd 3-52—but leaked 5.70 per over; Latham: “Daryl’s 89 on that minefield was huge; we defended par.”

West Indies’ pursuit was a rollercoaster—blistering starts, mid-innings mire, and a death-over miracle that fell agonizingly short. Lewis and Hetmyer exploded to 72 for 0 in the powerplay: Lewis pulling Ferguson for six, Hetmyer’s ramped four off Duffy. Jamieson struck back: his bouncer hurried Hetmyer—top-edged to Phillips for 28 off 18 — 72 for 1 in the 8th. Hope joined Lewis, their 48-run stand off 52 balls steady: Hope’s nurdled single off Santner, Lewis reaching 40 off 48. But Duffy’s inswinger trapped Lewis lbw for 42 off 52 — 120 for 2 in the 22nd.

Carty and Hope rebuilt: Carty’s swept four off Santner, Hope’s driven boundary off Ferguson. Their 65-run stand off 72 balls lifted to 185 for 2 by the 35th, Hope reaching 35 with a flicked six off Chapman. But Santner’s drift deceived Hope—lbw for 35 off 58 — 185 for 3 in the 36th. Rutherford (28 off 22) and Carty added 35, Rutherford pulling Jamieson for six, but Ferguson yorked Rutherford — 220 for 4 in the 40th. Chase entered, his off-spin? No, batting: he reverse-swept Duffy for four, reaching 20 off 18. Carty fell for 67 off 85 (5×4, 1×6), stumped off Santner — 255 for 5 in the 46th.

Needing 31 off 24, Holder (8 off 5) scratched before bowled by Jamieson — 255 for 6. Shepherd (2 off 3) run-out hobbling on hamstring — 257 for 7. Motie (0 off 1) yorked by Ferguson — 257 for 8. Joseph (8 off 6) and Seales ignited: Seales smashing two sixes off Santner in the 49th, their 78-run stand off 39 balls—Chase? Wait, Chase was earlier; it’s Chase 42* off 25 (4×4, 3×6) and Seales 29* off 13 (2×4, 3×6)—pushing to 281 for 9. Needing 5 off 6, Santner held: dot, single, dot, yorker to Joseph — West Indies all out for 281. New Zealand’s bowlers heroic: Santner 3-52, Jamieson 2-48, Ferguson 2-58. Hope: “78 in the end was special, but 285 was 20 too many.”

Post-Match Reflections & Series Stakes

• Player of the Match: Daryl Mitchell (89 & 0-28)
• Series Lead: New Zealand 2-0; 3rd ODI November 22, Nelson.
• Stats Spotlight: Mitchell’s 89 his 11th ODI fifty; Santner’s 3-52 his best at McLean Park. Chase-Seales’ 78 the highest 9th-wicket stand in ODI history vs NZ.
• Milestone: NZ’s 9th home ODI win in 10; WI’s 10th loss in 11 away bilaterals.

Latham: “Bowlers’ death over was ice-cold; Daryl’s knock set it up.”

Upcoming ODI

• 3rd ODI: Saxton Oval, Nelson, November 22 (D/N) — Dead rubber for WI.

New Zealand eye whitewash; West Indies fight for pride. The tour’s white-ball leg concludes with fire.