The West Indies and New Zealand produced another tightly contested one-day international when they met in the fifth and final match of the 2026 series. Fans searching for the West Indies cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team match scorecard will find a classic chase that went down to the wire at Kensington Oval. New Zealand posted 268 for 9 before West Indies reached the target with two wickets and 15 balls remaining, thanks largely to Shimron Hetmyer’s composed unbeaten 69.
This fixture closed a competitive bilateral series that New Zealand ultimately won 3-2. The match offered high-quality cricket, individual brilliance, and late drama, making the full scorecard essential reading for supporters of both teams.
West Indies Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team: Match Context and Series Background
New Zealand arrived in the Caribbean for a five-match ODI series in July 2026. West Indies started strongly, winning the first ODI in Providence by seven wickets. New Zealand then took the next three matches—by five wickets, six wickets, and one wicket—to seal the series 3-1 with one game remaining. The fifth ODI in Bridgetown therefore became a chance for the hosts to finish on a high and for New Zealand to complete a dominant tour.
Jayden Lennox had already emerged as the standout bowler of the series with consistent performances. West Indies needed improved batting depth after several low totals earlier in the tour. The head-to-head history between the sides has been closely contested over decades of ODIs, with both teams enjoying periods of dominance depending on conditions and form.
West Indies Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | West Indies vs New Zealand, 5th ODI |
| Venue | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados |
| Date | 21 July 2026 (Day/Night) |
| Series | New Zealand tour of West Indies 2026 |
| Toss | West Indies won the toss and elected to field |
| New Zealand | 268/9 (50 overs) |
| West Indies | 269/8 (47.3 overs) |
| Result | West Indies won by 2 wickets (15 balls remaining) |
| Player of the Match | Shimron Hetmyer (WI) – 69* (64) |
| Player of the Series | Jayden Lennox (NZ) – 14 wickets |
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Nicholls | 10 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 66.66 |
| Will Young | 56 | 63 | 6 | 1 | 88.88 |
| Nick Kelly | 64 | 80 | 5 | 2 | 80.00 |
| Mark Chapman | 11 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 91.66 |
| Tom Latham † | 69 | 71 | 6 | 1 | 97.18 |
| Michael Bracewell | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14.28 |
| Mitchell Santner (c) | 13 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 48.14 |
| Nathan Smith | 18 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Kristian Clarke | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 |
| Jacob Duffy | 5* | 6 | 0 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Jayden Lennox | Did not bat | – | – | – | – |
| Extras | 17 (b 5, lb 7, nb 2, w 3) | ||||
| Total | 268/9 (50 overs, RR 5.36) |
New Zealand built a solid platform through Young, Kelly and Latham. The middle order accelerated at times but lost momentum in the final ten overs against disciplined West Indies bowling, particularly Alzarri Joseph’s economical spell. The total of 268 looked competitive but not overwhelming on a good batting surface.
West Indies Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Forde | 10 | 1 | 49 | 1 | 4.90 |
| Jayden Seales | 10 | 1 | 57 | 1 | 5.70 |
| Vitel Lawes | 10 | 0 | 63 | 2 | 6.30 |
| Alzarri Joseph | 10 | 1 | 38 | 2 | 3.80 |
| Gudakesh Motie | 10 | 0 | 49 | 1 | 4.90 |
West Indies Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ackeem Auguste | 34 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 141.66 |
| Justin Greaves | 22 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 146.66 |
| Keacy Carty | 20 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 37.03 |
| Shai Hope (c) † | 39 | 52 | 3 | 1 | 75.00 |
| Sherfane Rutherford | 61 | 58 | 2 | 5 | 105.17 |
| Shimron Hetmyer | 69* | 64 | 2 | 4 | 107.81 |
| Gudakesh Motie | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Matthew Forde | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 160.00 |
| Alzarri Joseph | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Jayden Seales | 5* | 7 | 1 | 0 | 71.42 |
| Vitel Lawes | Did not bat | – | – | – | – |
| Extras | 7 (w 7) | ||||
| Total | 269/8 (47.3 overs, RR 5.66) |
West Indies began aggressively with Auguste and Greaves but lost both early. Carty struggled for fluency while Hope rebuilt. The decisive partnership came between Rutherford and Hetmyer, who added 95 runs for the fifth wicket and swung the momentum firmly toward the hosts.
New Zealand Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Duffy | 8 | 0 | 67 | 3 | 8.37 |
| Nathan Smith | 7.3 | 0 | 51 | 1 | 6.80 |
| Mitchell Santner | 10 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 3.90 |
| Kristian Clarke | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 4.33 |
| Jayden Lennox | 9 | 0 | 35 | 3 | 3.88 |
| Michael Bracewell | 10 | 0 | 64 | 1 | 6.40 |
West Indies Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Highlights
| Highlight | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Batter | Shimron Hetmyer (69* off 64) |
| Best Bowler | Jayden Lennox (3/35) / Alzarri Joseph (2/38) |
| Best Partnership | Rutherford & Hetmyer – 95 runs (5th wicket) |
| Key Moment | Duffy’s two wickets in the 45th over (248/8) |
| Turning Point | Rutherford-Hetmyer stand after 123/4 |
| Best Bowling Spell | Lennox’s control through the middle overs |
| Best Batting Performance | Hetmyer’s calm finishing knock |
| Final Result | West Indies won by 2 wickets |
Aggressive Start and Early Setbacks
Auguste and Greaves raced to 57 in the powerplay before both fell in quick succession. The early loss forced West Indies into a rebuilding phase.
Middle-Order Struggle and Recovery
Carty’s slow 20 off 54 balls and Hope’s 39 provided some stability, but West Indies were still only 123 for 4 when the key partnership began.
Rutherford and Hetmyer’s Match-Defining Stand
The pair added 95 runs with positive intent. Rutherford’s five sixes injected urgency, while Hetmyer played the anchor role that later became the match-winning contribution.
Late Drama
When Rutherford was stumped for 61, West Indies still needed 51. Motie, Forde and Joseph fell quickly, leaving Hetmyer and Seales to negotiate the final stretch. Hetmyer remained unflustered, striking two sixes in the 47th over to settle the contest.
Turning Point of the west indies vs new zealand match
- The 95-run partnership between Rutherford and Hetmyer transformed a precarious 123 for 4 into a winning position at 218 for 5.
- Duffy’s consecutive wickets of Forde and Joseph in the 45th over suddenly left West Indies eight down with 21 still required, shifting pressure back onto the hosts.
- Hetmyer’s two sixes off Duffy in the 47th over removed any remaining doubt and effectively sealed the victory.
- Santner’s decision to withdraw Lennox after nine overs removed New Zealand’s most effective bowler from the attack at a critical stage.
Top Players in the West Indies Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match
| Player | Team | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shimron Hetmyer | WI | Batter | 69* (64) – Player of the Match |
| Sherfane Rutherford | WI | Batter | 61 (58) with 5 sixes |
| Tom Latham | NZ | Batter/Keeper | 69 (71) |
| Jayden Lennox | NZ | Bowler | 3/35 (9 overs) |
| Alzarri Joseph | WI | Bowler | 2/38 (10 overs) |
| Nick Kelly | NZ | Batter | 64 (80) |
Hetmyer paced his innings perfectly, accelerating only when required and finishing unbeaten. His calm presence under pressure was the decisive factor in a tense chase.
Sherfane Rutherford – Explosive Support
Rutherford’s aggressive 61, featuring five sixes, provided the necessary impetus during the middle overs and formed the backbone of the winning partnership.
Jayden Lennox – Series Star
Although on the losing side in the final match, Lennox’s 3 for 35 took his series tally to 14 wickets and earned him Player of the Series honours.
West Indies Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Matches: Series Overview and Stats
New Zealand won the five-match ODI series 3-2.
| Match | Date | Venue | Result | Scores | Key Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | 11 July 2026 | Providence Stadium, Georgetown | West Indies won by 7 wickets | NZ 267 WI 268/3 (48.5 ov) |
Keacy Carty (WI) 95 Alzarri Joseph (WI) 4/41 |
| 2nd ODI | 13 July 2026 | Providence Stadium, Georgetown | New Zealand won by 5 wickets | WI 138 NZ 141/5 (32.4 ov) |
Jayden Lennox (NZ) 5/19 |
| 3rd ODI | 16 July 2026 | Providence Stadium, Georgetown | New Zealand won by 6 wickets | WI 140 NZ 141/4 (39.3 ov) |
Jayden Lennox (NZ) 4/52 |
| 4th ODI | 19 July 2026 | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown | New Zealand won by 1 wicket | WI 188 NZ 189/9 (44.1 ov) |
Mark Chapman (NZ) 80 Mitchell Santner (NZ) 34* & 2/36 Gudakesh Motie (WI) 5/47 |
| 5th ODI | 21 July 2026 | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown | West Indies won by 2 wickets | NZ 268/9 WI 269/8 (47.3 ov) |
Shimron Hetmyer (WI) 69* Sherfane Rutherford (WI) 61 Jayden Lennox (NZ) 3/35 |
Jayden Lennox finished as the leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps. Keacy Carty was West Indies’ top run-scorer across the series with 194 runs.
Head-to-Head Record Between West Indies vs New Zealand
In ODIs, West Indies and New Zealand have contested more than 70 matches historically. Recent series results have favoured New Zealand, who won the 2022 series in the Caribbean 2-1 and the 2025-26 home series 3-0 before this 3-2 victory in 2026. Exact overall tallies vary slightly by source but show a closely balanced contest over the decades, with New Zealand holding a narrow recent edge.
| Format | Matches Played | West Indies Wins | New Zealand Wins | Drawn / Tied / No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 52 | 13 | 19 | 20 Drawn |
| ODIs | 76 | 33 | 36 | 7 No Result |
| T20Is | 25 | 8 | 14 | 3 (Tied/No Result) |
Why West Indies Won
- A substantial middle-order partnership of 95 runs between Rutherford and Hetmyer.
- Hetmyer’s ability to remain calm and finish the chase under pressure.
- Effective use of the powerplay by the openers to keep the required rate manageable early.
- Disciplined bowling that restricted New Zealand in the death overs, especially Joseph’s spell.
- Better handling of the late-match pressure compared with New Zealand’s decision-making in the final stages.
Importance of the Match
For West Indies the victory provided a much-needed confidence boost after three consecutive losses and a series defeat. It demonstrated that the batting order can produce match-winning contributions under pressure. New Zealand still claimed the series and gained valuable experience in Caribbean conditions, with Lennox’s emergence as a high-quality spinner a major positive heading into future assignments.
Conclusion
The West Indies cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team match scorecard from the fifth ODI at Kensington Oval tells the story of a hard-fought contest decided by nerve and partnership. Shimron Hetmyer’s unbeaten 69 and Sherfane Rutherford’s 61 guided the hosts home by two wickets, giving West Indies a consolation win while New Zealand celebrated a 3-2 series triumph. Jayden Lennox’s series-leading 14 wickets marked him as the standout performer of the tour. Cricket fans can look forward to the next chapter of this competitive rivalry with both sides showing clear strengths and areas still to refine.
Read More: Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
FAQ’s
1. How close was the final margin in the West Indies vs New Zealand 5th ODI?
West Indies completed the chase of 269 with exactly two wickets and 15 balls remaining, making it one of the tighter finishes of the series.
2. Which partnership proved most decisive in the West Indies chase?
The 95-run fifth-wicket stand between Sherfane Rutherford (61) and Shimron Hetmyer (69*) turned the match after West Indies had slipped to 123 for 4.
3. Did any New Zealand bowler take a hat-trick or come close in this match?
Jacob Duffy took two wickets in consecutive deliveries in the 45th over (Forde and Joseph), leaving West Indies eight down and briefly raising hopes of a dramatic turnaround.
4. What role did the toss play in the 5th ODI outcome?
West Indies won the toss and chose to field first. Their bowlers restricted New Zealand to 268, a total the home side successfully chased under lights.
5. How did Jayden Lennox’s performance in the final match affect his series standing?
His 3 for 35 took his series tally to a tournament-high 14 wickets, confirming him as Player of the Series despite New Zealand’s defeat in the last game.
