🌟 A Thriller at Eden Park
The West Indies scripted a historic defence at Eden Park, Auckland, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series after defeating New Zealand by just 7 runs. In a contest filled with tension, collapses, comebacks and world-class death bowling, both teams delivered a spectacle that shows why T20 cricket remains the most unpredictable format.
New Zealand went from 70-2 to 107-9 in a stunning collapse before skipper Mitchell Santner almost produced a miracle. But Romario Shepherd’s calm in the final over sealed victory, defending 20 runs — the lowest total ever successfully defended at Eden Park.
📌 Match Summary
- Match: 1st T20I, West Indies tour of New Zealand 2025
- Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
- Date: 05 November 2025
- Result: West Indies won by 7 runs
- West Indies: 164/6 (20 overs)
- New Zealand: 157/9 (20 overs)
🏅 Player of the Match: Roston Chase — 28 (27) & 3/26
🔥 Key Turning Point: New Zealand collapse (7 wickets for 37 runs)
✅ First Innings: Hope Leads WI to a Fighting Total
After being sent into bat, West Indies had a cautious and shaky start.
✦ West Indies Powerplay: Slow but Steadying (32/2)
- Brandon King out cheaply — early pressure
- Athanaze injected momentum with 16 off 9
- Struggles against disciplined NZ seamers
The innings changed when:
⭐ Captain Shai Hope Anchors Wisely
Hope handled early movement confidently:
📊 53 off 39 balls
✅ 4 boundaries & 3 sixes
✅ Controlled middle overs
✅ Responsible captaincy under pressure
Hope’s role was not flashy but essential — keeping West Indies in the game when wickets fell at tough moments.
🔥 Middle Overs — Chase and Powell Deliver Punches
Roston Chase Impact
Roston Chase played a stabilizing role:
- Rotated strike well
- Punished poor balls
- Set the stage for a death surge
His 28 (27) looked modest but crucial to momentum.
Rovman Powell — Finish Strong
Powell turned the heat on with:
⚡ 33 off 23 balls
💥 2 Sixes — Just in time
Two dropped catches helped him stay and deliver important runs — which proved decisive later.
✅ West Indies Final Push — 164/6
A late cameo by Shepherd ensured WI had something defendable on a tricky pitch with uneven bounce.
⚡ Second Innings: New Zealand’s Collapse & Santner’s Heroics
The chase started competitively:
⚠️ Top Order Promise — Then Disaster
New Zealand scoreboard:
✅ 70/2 in 10 overs — match in control
Then came the meltdown:
❌ Lost 7 wickets for 37 runs
❌ Middle order failed vs spin & cutters
❌ Pressure swallowed big names
Chase, Seales, and Hosein choked the scoring rate, creating panic shots.
💥 Mitchell Santner: Skipper Fights Alone
Santner’s performance was captaincy perfection:
📌 55 off 28 balls*
🚀 8 fours, 2 sixes
🔥 196+ strike rate
🏹 Took control at crisis
With wickets falling around him, Santner carried New Zealand to the last possible hope.
🎯 Final Over — Shepherd vs Santner
New Zealand needed 20 runs.
Ball by ball scenario:
| Ball | Runs Scored | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Single | 19 off 5 |
| 2 | Dot | Pressure sky high |
| 3 | 4 | 15 off 3 |
| 4 | Dot | WI believe! ✅ |
| 5 | 6 | 9 off 1 |
| 6 | Single | WI win by 7 runs! |
Shepherd kept his nerves — executing wide yorkers smartly.
Historic:
📌 Lowest T20I total ever defended at Eden Park
🧨 Bowling Heroes of the Night
🌟 West Indies Best Bowlers
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Key Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roston Chase | 4 | 26 | 3️⃣ | Broke NZ spine ✅ |
| Jayden Seales | 4 | 32 | 3️⃣ | Fire, pace & accuracy ✅ |
| Romario Shepherd | 3 | 26 | 1️⃣ | Death overs match-winner ✅ |
| Matthew Forde | 4 | 32 | 1️⃣ | Early swing & breakthrough ✅ |
| Akeal Hosein | 1 | 4 | 1️⃣ | Smart powerplay wicket ✅ |
A collective & planned attack — spin & seam rotation worked beautifully.
🛑 What Caused New Zealand’s Collapse?
| Reason | Impact |
|---|---|
| WI targeted good length & slower cutters | Reduced hitting zones |
| Spin introduced early | Strangled momentum |
| Poor shot selection | Accelerated collapse |
| Lack of partnerships | Pressure multiplied |
| Death overs panic | Needed calm finishers |
📈 Tactical Breakdown — Both Teams’ Mindset
| Category | West Indies | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Powerplay | Survived, then hit later | Scored freely early |
| Middle Overs | Controlled by Hope & Chase | Lost wickets, stalled run rate |
| Death Overs | Proper finish | Chaotic, high-risk shots |
| Bowling Plan | Smart pace/spin mix | Leaked runs late, execution errors |
| Captaincy | Calm & structured | Santner great as batter, tough calls as skipper |
West Indies executed their strategy better at key phases.
⭐ Player of the Match — Roston Chase
Chase quietly became the game changer:
- Broke partnerships
- Stopped aggressive shot play
- Added valuable runs himself
MVP Stats:
| Skill | Performance |
|---|---|
| Batting | 28 (27) |
| Bowling | 3/26 |
| Economy | 6.50 |
A near-perfect all-round display.
💡 Lessons for Both Teams
✅ West Indies Takeaway
✔ Winning tight games builds confidence
✔ Hope-Chase-Powell core strong
✔ Young quicks delivering wickets
✔ Leadership presence inspiring
⚠️ New Zealand Needs Improvement
❌ Middle order inconsistency
❌ No proven finisher after Williamson era
❌ Pressure game strategy lacking
❌ Bowler variations predictable late
🔭 Series Outlook — What’s Next?
With the T20 World Cup just months away, this series is crucial:
West Indies goal:
✅ Build stable combinations
New Zealand goal:
✅ Discover reliable middle-order match winners
Upcoming matches will reveal:
🔥 Who can stay composed under pressure
🔥 Whether WI’s new stars can build consistency
🔥 If NZ can bounce back mentally
📊 Top 10 Match Stats You Need to Know
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lowest T20I total defended at Eden Park | ✅ 164 defended |
| NZ collapse | 7 wickets for 37 runs |
| Santner’s finish | 55* (28) — captain marvel |
| Hope’s milestone | 50+ score as captain in tough conditions |
| Chase’s bowling | 3 wickets in game-changing spell |
| Dot balls by WI bowlers | 60 — huge pressure factor |
| Dropped catches by NZ | 2 costly mistakes |
| Powerplay score WI | Just 32 — good recovery afterward |
| Highest NZ T10W stand | Still not enough to win |
| DRS unavailable | Added drama due to umpire reliance |
🤔 Expert Verdict
This match proves:
“In T20 cricket, pressure is the greatest bowler.”
West Indies played pressure smarter.
New Zealand suffered from panic.
Such thrilling contests are exactly what fans crave ahead of global tournaments.
❓ Top Asked FAQs
Q1: Who won the 1st T20I between West Indies and New Zealand 2025?
A: West Indies won by 7 runs.Q2: Who was Player of the Match?
A: Roston Chase for 28 & 3/26.Q3: How many runs did West Indies score?
A: 164/6 in 20 overs.Q4: What caused New Zealand’s defeat?
A: A massive wicket collapse during their chase.Q5: Who was New Zealand’s best batsman?
A: Mitchell Santner — 55* (28).✅ Final Word
This wasn’t the highest-scoring game, but it was:
🔥 Fierce
🔥 Tactical
🔥 Tense
🔥 Unpredictable
West Indies are now ahead 1-0 — but New Zealand will return harder.
Expect fireworks throughout this thrilling five-match series.