Brandon King and Shamarh Brooks shared a 102-run opening partnership as the West Indies finally hit a winning formula, beating New Zealand by eight wickets in the third Twenty20 international on Sunday to prevent a three-match series sweep match.
After taking the brave decision to rest captain Nicholas Pooran, the hosts also fielded more than one spinner for the first time in the series and their players thrived on a slow pitch at Sabina Park in Kingston.
New Zealand made just 145 for seven after winning the toss, well short of 185 for five in the first match and 215 for five in the second.
West Indies striker Akeal Hosein celebrates with captain Rovman Powell. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa).
The West Indies reached their target with a free edge as captain Rovman Powell hit Jimmy Neesham for a six to clinch victory and leave the series 2-1 in New Zealand’s favour.
Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein, playing for the first time in the series, took two for 28, while right-arm fast bowler Odean Smith took a career-best three for 29 and Dominic Drakes, also making his debut , took one for 19. from four overs.
King, who missed the first two matches of the series with injury, fueled the run chase by taking 53 runs from 35 balls.
Brooks held his bat throughout the innings, finishing on 56, while Powell rushed in at the end hitting 27 off 15 balls.
“It was pretty special to be able to do it at home in front of everybody,” King said. “The support is unbelievable, my family is here and I’m happy to be able to give it to them. I think consistency is the key. When you are an opening batsman, you try to give your team a good start.
“Today, credit should be given to the footballers. They did a great job for us and made my job a lot easier.”
New Zealand failed to repeat their performances of the first two wins as they made strong starts and built partnerships around Kane Williamson who made 47 in the first match and Glenn Phillips who made 76 in the second.
On Sunday, Hosein walked in only for the third wicket and promptly dropped Martin Guptill (15) to leave New Zealand 18 for one.
Devon Conway (21), Mitchell Santner (13) and Kane Williamson (24) all made starts but struggled to build momentum in the innings. That task again fell to Phillips, who made 41 off 26 balls and was Man of the Series.
Phillips needed a run but was out at a critical stage when New Zealand were 125 for five in the 17th over. New Zealand made big finishes in the first two matches, scoring 64 in the last five overs of the first two matches, but managing just 39 in the last five overs this time.
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West Indies batsman Odean Smith celebrates with wicketkeeper Devon Thomas the dismissal of James Neeshamd of New Zealand. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa).
The West Indies innings stood in stark contrast to the opening partnership between King and Brooks, taking 13.1 overs and making the result a foregone conclusion.
King reached his half-century off 30 balls and Brooks hung on to anchor the innings, posting 50 off his 52 deliveries.
“The West Indies adapted well to the conditions,” Williamson said. “With the bat, we felt if we could get about 15 more we could get some momentum but they were able to get wickets all the time to execute their plans beautifully.
“They did the same with the bat and we couldn’t open an end with the ball. “We knew with 140 things we were going to have to go well for us with the ball and they beat us today.”
The teams meet in the first of three one-day internationals on Wednesday.
