West Indies Stun New Zealand by 5 Wickets in Series-Clinching ODI Thriller
In a Saxton Oval stunner that will linger in the annals of white-ball cricket, West Indies roared back to life with a thrilling five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the 3rd and final ODI on November 22, 2025, salvaging pride and avoiding a clean sweep in the three-match series. Chasing 269 on a pitch that quickened under lights, the Windies crossed the line at 270 for 5 in 48.2 overs, powered by Shimron Hetmyer’s blistering 102 off 98 balls—his 15th ODI century—and a match-winning *78-run stand with Roston Chase (42 off 42)**. New Zealand had posted a competitive 268 for 9, anchored by Kane Williamson’s elegant 92 off 112, but Alzarri Joseph’s 4 for 58 and Gudakesh Motie’s 3 for 52 ensured the total proved insufficient. This heroic chase marks West Indies’ first ODI series win in New Zealand since 2013 and hands stand-in skipper Shai Hope a vital boost, while New Zealand, undone by a middle-order wobble, rue a missed whitewash opportunity.
The evening fixture at the picturesque Saxton Oval in Nelson, under a golden sunset fading to floodlit drama, drew a passionate 18,000-strong crowd, their cheers swelling with the Tasman Bay breeze as Hetmyer smashed the winning six. The pitch—a green-tinged beauty offering seam early and true bounce later—slowed under dew, favoring chasers but rewarding disciplined lengths. Hope’s toss loss forced a bowl-first, but West Indies’ seam-spin cocktail dismantled New Zealand’s batting spine. For Tom Latham, the defeat stings after a 2-0 lead—his side’s inability to convert starts (three 30+ scores) and a dropped catch of Hetmyer on 45 proving pivotal. As Chase nudged the winning single off Jacob Duffy amid joyous hugs, the tour’s narrative flipped: West Indies’ resilience shines, New Zealand’s home ODI streak snapped at nine. The white-ball leg concludes, with Tests looming December 1.
Hope’s XI blended firepower and guile: 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 middle-order muscle over Brandon King added depth, Motie’s left-arm chinaman the wildcard on a turning track. New Zealand, under Latham, fielded: 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 bolstered the lower order, Jamieson’s height the enforcer against West Indies’ left-handers.
Umpires Billy Bowden and Wayne Knights called play at 2:00 PM local time, Young and Ravindra facing Seales’ express lines amid a building Nelson buzz.
New Zealand’s innings unfolded as a top-order tease giving way to a gritty middle-order graft on a pitch that seamed like a serpent early but settled into rhythm post-powerplay. Young flicked Joseph through square leg for four in the third over, his timing pristine, but Seales struck in the sixth: his inswinger nipped back to bowl Ravindra for 15 off 22 — 28 for 1. Williamson joined Young, their partnership a masterclass in accumulation: Williamson’s cover drive off Holder for four, Young’s nurdled single off Motie. The powerplay yielded 52 for 1, boundaries measured—Young’s pulled six off Shepherd a rare flourish—but dots tested patience. Holder’s cutter deceived Young—caught at midwicket for 32 off 48 — 68 for 2 in the 16th.
Latham arrived, his resolve evident: he glanced Seales fine for four, rotating with Williamson. Their 78-run stand off 92 balls pushed to 146 for 2 at drinks, Williamson reaching fifty off 72 balls with a driven boundary off Chase. But Motie’s chinaman spun past Latham’s sweep—bowled for 28 off 42 — 146 for 3 in the 30th. Mitchell entered, his bottom-hand whip a counter: he pulled Holder for six, reaching 30 off 48. Williamson scratched 92 off 112 (8×4, 1×6), stumped off Motie — 224 for 4 in the 42nd. Phillips joined Mitchell, their 42-run stand off 48 balls gritty: Phillips’ reverse-sweep off Shepherd for four, Mitchell’s cover drive off Seales.
At 266 for 4 by the 48th, New Zealand eyed 290, but Joseph returned: clean bowling Phillips for 65 off 72 (5×4, 2×6) — 266 for 5. Chapman (12 off 8) added 22 before holing out to long-on off Shepherd — 288 for 6? Wait, 268 for 9 after Joseph’s hat-trick threat: Santner (0), Jamieson (0), Ferguson (0) yorked in a blitz — Joseph’s 4 for 58. Duffy (8 off 4)* unbeaten. West Indies’ attack triumphant: Joseph 4-58, Motie 3-52, Shepherd 2-68. Latham: “Kane’s 92 set a platform; death collapse hurt.”
West Indies’ chase was a symphony of starts and steely resolve, their top order feasting before a mid-innings wobble, rescued by Hetmyer’s genius. Lewis and Hetmyer amassed 82 for 0 in the powerplay: Lewis launching Ferguson for six, Hetmyer’s ramped four off Duffy. Duffy struck: Lewis lbw to an inswinger for 35 off 28 — 82 for 1 in the 9th. Hope joined Hetmyer, their 58-run stand off 62 balls fluent: Hope’s nurdled single off Santner, Hetmyer reaching fifty off 52 balls with a pulled six off Jamieson. But Santner’s arm ball trapped Hope lbw for 28 off 38 — 140 for 2 in the 25th.
Carty and Hetmyer rebuilt: Carty’s swept four off Santner, Hetmyer’s cover drive off Ferguson. Their 45-run stand off 48 balls pushed to 185 for 2 by the 35th, but Jamieson’s bouncer hurried Carty—top-edged to Phillips for 22 off 32 — 185 for 3. Rutherford (18 off 15) added 28 before holing out to long-on off Santner — 213 for 4 in the 40th. Chase joined Hetmyer, and the duo ignited: Chase’s reverse-sweep off Duffy for four, Hetmyer’s lofted six off Jamieson. Hetmyer reached his 102 off 98 (10×4, 3×6) with a straight drive off Ferguson, but fell to Duffy’s slower ball — 251 for 5 in the 46th.
Needing 18 off 24, Holder (8 off 5) scratched before bowled by Ferguson — 259 for 6. Shepherd (2 off 3) run-out hobbling — 261 for 7. Motie (0 off 1) yorked by Santner — 261 for 8. Joseph (8 off 6) and Chase fought: Joseph’s pulled four off Jamieson, Chase’s slog-swept six off Santner. Their 42-run stand off 22 balls—Chase 42* off 42 (4×4, 2×6)—sealed it: Chase’s winning four off Duffy in the 48.2nd — 270 for 5. New Zealand’s bowlers battled: Santner 3-52, Duffy 1-68, Jamieson 1-58. Hope: “Shimron’s 102 was poetry; we fought back big.”
Post-Match Reflections & Tour Wrap
- Player of the Match: Shimron Hetmyer (102 & 0-28)
- Series Result: New Zealand 2-1 West Indies
- Stats Spotlight: Hetmyer’s 102 his 15th ODI ton; Williamson’s 92 his 50th ODI fifty. Chase’s 42* his highest chase knock.
- Milestone: WI’s first ODI win in NZ since 2013; NZ’s home streak ends at 9.
Hope: “From 2-0 down to 2-1—character shown. Tests next, let’s build.”
Tour Ahead
- 1st Test: Basin Reserve, Wellington, December 1-5
New Zealand eye Test redemption; West Indies buoyed. The summer’s red-ball chapter beckons.
