new zealand edged out west indies by a narrow margin of seven runs in the first ODI at Hagley Oval, largely thanks to his tenacious, injury-hindered century. darryl mitchellOn a pitch that offered variable pace and lateral movement throughout the day, Mitchell’s 119 was better than every other effort and ultimately shaped the early outcome of a tense series,
Daryl Mitchell saves New Zealand from early dismissal
Sent in to bat in cold and windy conditions in Christchurch, New Zealand suffered a setback almost immediately. West Indies, opting for a seam-heavy attack, struck twice in the seventh over through Matthew Ford, who dismissed Rachin Ravindra Before trapping Will Young cheaply on the first ball. The hosts were in early trouble at 24 for 2.
The atmosphere changed with Michel’s arrival. Using decisive footwork to disrupt the length of the seamers, he found a way to keep the scoreboard ticking despite uneven bounce. His partnership with devon conway-Who scored 49 runs and took the innings forward and took New Zealand to a recovery position at 91 for 2.
But the momentum faded again Roston Chase Applied a chokehold through disciplined off-spin that flowed deftly with the wind. Chase’s returns may have yielded only one wicket, but his spell created many chances and halted New Zealand’s progress for long periods. Michael BracewellFell twice, scored a brilliant score of 35 which proved crucial in the final tally.
Under pressure, Mitchell’s century took the hosts to a competitive score.
The turning point came in the 42nd over when Mitchell, set for 79, was out of the game due to a leg strain. Despite being restricted in his races and forced to rely on clean striking, he managed to change gears dramatically. Bursting straight boundaries with raw power, he crossed his century – there was a rare roar of emotions upon reaching the milestone.
Mitchell played the final innings of 119 runs with the help of 12 fours and two sixes, making New Zealand 269 runs for 7 wickets. It was a total that always seemed competitive on a pitch, which was enough to keep the bowlers interested.
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West Indies struggled early, late charge not enough
The West Indies team, which came to chase the target, was never able to achieve the initial rhythm. kisi kartiA labored 20 runs from 67 balls reflected the visitors’ difficulty in adapting to seam movement and disciplined lines. jacob duffy And zak faulxThe run rate stagnated, leaving their score at just 59 after 19 overs,
The innings came alive only when Sherfane Rutherford Launched a spirited counterattack, scoring 55 runs from 61 balls. His strokeplay revived the contest and set the stage for a late surge Justin Greaves And a wounded but courageous Romario ShepherdThe pair took advantage of New Zealand’s weak fielding intensity and scored boundaries in the final overs,
Yet the mountain built from slow beginnings proved too steep. 20 runs were needed from the final over, but despite late fireworks, West Indies managed to score less. kyle jamison The game ended with 3 wickets for 52 runs and New Zealand’s hard-fought victory was confirmed.
