Images from the T20 World Cup Group C match between the West Indies and New Zealand in Trinidad on Thursday.
Sherfane Rutherford's maiden T20 World Cup half-century proved decisive as the West Indies beat New Zealand 13 runs in the Group C match in Trinidad on Thursday to qualify for the Super Eight stage.
The 25-year-old's brilliant 68 off 39 balls, which included 6 sixes and 2 fours, enabled the co-hosts post 149/9 in their 20 overs after reeling at 30 for 5 at one stage.
He single-handedly took on the Kiwi bowlers, scoring 37 off the last two overs.
New Zealand, who were beaten by Afghanistan in their opening match, face an early exit from the T20 World Cup.
In reply, New Zealand failed to get any partnership going and were all out for 136/9 with Alzarri Joseph taking 4/19 in four overs, while spinner Gukadesh Motie claimed 3/25. Glenn Phillips top-scored with a 33-ball 40, which included 3 fours and 2 sixes.
New Zealand got off to a poor start and lost both their openers -- Devon Conway (5) and Finn Allen (26) -- in the Powerplay.
Thereafter, left-arm spinner Motie foxed the Kiwi batters in the middle overs, finishing with a match-turning spell of 3/25 in four overs, before pacer Alzarri Joseph turned on the heat with his four-wicket haul.
Motie dismissed Rachin Ravindra after he ended up flicking straight to Russell at deep midwicket. He got Kane Williamson caught behind after he got an edge trying to play the cut shot.
Glenn Phillips kept the Kiwi hopes alive with his 33-ball 40 before being dismissed by Joseph.
New Zealand needed 33 runs from the last over bowled by Joseph as Mitchell Santner smashed three sixes off the first four balls but a slow start meant they eventually fell short by 13 runs.
Alzarri Joseph was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, with four wickets for 19 runs. He was will-supported by Gudakesh Motie, who took 3 for 25.
The West Indies, by virtue of their third win on the trot, secured a Super Eight berth, two years after they failed to make the main round of the T20 World Cup in Australia.
The result left New Zealand's hopes of making the Super 8 stage hanging by a thread after their second defeat in as many matches.
Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and elected to field.
The West Indies named an unchanged eleven, while the Kiwis made three changes to the side that lost to Afghanistan in their tournament opener.
Veteran pacer Tim Southee replaced fellow-quick Matt Henry, while Jimmy Neesham and Rachin Ravindra were included in place of Michael Bracewell and Mark Chapman.
Having made three changes to the line-up that was beaten convincingly by Afghanistan, the Kiwis started with purpose and Trent Boult made it count, dismissing Johnson Charles at the end of the first over.
Nicholas Pooran rode on some luck for three quick boundaries, becoming the West Indies’ highest T20I run-getter, moving past Chris Gayle.
But New Zealand struck again, Southee and Lockie Ferguson forcing Pooran and Roston Chase to top-edge straight to Devon Convay and Ravindra respectively.
The wicket of captain Rovman Powell capped off a dominant Powerplay for the Kiwis, with the West Indies tottering on 23 for 4 at the six-over mark and Southee picking up two of those scalps.
It was left for the West Indies middle and lower order to pick up the pieces.
Rutherford and Akeal Hosein took the initiative, combining for a sixth-wicket stand of 28 runs off 27 balls.
Hosein scored 15 off 17 before departing.
Andre Russell kept the West Indies’ total climbing slowly, chipping in with a quick-fire 14 off seven balls, including a six.
Rutherford then turned the final five overs into his own ‘powerplay’, blasting five sixes and two fours.
He brought up his 50 off the final delivery of the 19th over and pounded 18 runs off the last over as Mitchell Santner had no answers with the ball.
The Guyanese slugger scored all 37 runs in the closing partnership with Gudakesh Motie, which became a new 10th wicket record in ICC T20 World Cup history.
