New Zealand vs West Indies, 2nd T20I at Auckland, NZ vs WI, Nov 06 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary

Phew, that was an extraordinary game of T20 cricket at the highest standard! We saw runs, wickets, brilliant fielding, clever bowling, and nail-biting moments. It looks like this series will continue to provide humdingers! New Zealand have levelled the series 1-1 before both teams move to Nelson for the third and fourth matches. That concludes all the action from us today. Thank you so much for joining and staying with ESPNcricinfo. This is Rashad Mahbub, pulling the curtains off on behalf of our scorers, Thilak Ramamurthy and Vairavan Karuppaiah. Goodnight and goodbye!

Mitchell Santner: "Another close game, probably a little bit too close, but I think the West Indies showed they're never out of the game, especially with the power they've got. It was nice to close one out. [Bowling strategy] I think it got a little bit dewy at the end, and the cutters seemed to skid on a little bit. When you have the talent and power of their batters, you have to try and mix it up. If they know where you're going to put it, they're going to put it out of the ground. The boys held their nerve brilliantly. Still using your bumpers at the end was outstanding, and Jamieson closing it out after a tough start to his over was crucial. You're not out of it until the very end against the West Indies boys. I think the West Indies bowled well in the Powerplay. Forde again three overs in the Powerplay looked pretty tough to hit. But Chapman's performance changed the game. The intent he showed from the start, quick singles, using his feet, was fantastic. He has the license to just keep going once he gets in, and getting 70-odd off 20 deliveries is a pretty good effort. [On What the Win Means] After a few losses in a row, this win means a lot. When you look over the two games, different guys stepped up at different times. Chapman today was outstanding. You only learn by putting yourself in those pressure situations. Eden Park against Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd is probably as hard as it gets. Foulkes, Duffy, and Jamieson closed it out brilliantly. It doesn't get any harder than that."

Shai Hope: "That was too close, you know. It was unfortunate that we didn't cross the line this time. Credit must be given to Chapman for the way he played that innings; he kind of took the game away from us. We didn't really finish as well as we wanted to with the ball or the bat. There are a few little areas where we can be better, especially at the top--myself included. But there was a great fight shown by Powell, Shepherd and Forde to give us a good chance to win that game. [Conversation During the Chase] When we needed 91 runs off the last five overs, we just felt that if we got a couple of sixes, it would bring the equation a lot lower, especially on a ground like this. Given the power that we possess in the bottom half of the lineup, we never feel out of the game. There is always positive energy coming through the dressing room. It's just unfortunate we didn't cross the line this time. [Using the Bowlers] The way Forde was bowling, he was giving Devon Conway a tough time at the start. We wanted to utilize that new ball in that situation. I felt he bowled really well. It was tough to take him off. As for Akeal Hosein, the two left-handers were batting, and the way they were going, it was pretty difficult to bring him in that situation. It was a tough one, but we were just trying to play the situation and match up as best as we could.

Player of the Match, Mark Chapman: "It's always nice to strike a few out of the middle. Obviously, I wasn't the only one today; there were a few contributions throughout. I thought Devon Conway and Tim Robinson did a great job seeing off the new ball, as it looked pretty tricky up front. I guess what pleased me most was trying to throw a few punches and take the attack on a little bit more. Obviously, the boundaries are smaller here, so you have to play a more fearless brand of cricket. I'm thankful that the plan came off today. [Final Overs] Out in the middle for those closing overs, the West Indies boys are so strong they are never really out of the game. It was amazing that the boys held their nerve at the end. I thought we had a great Powerplay to start, and then the spinners through the middle were outstanding. Ish Sodhi came in, hasn't played for us for a little bit now, and he's come in and taken three wickets, which was really good to see."

Stats from Shubham Agarwal: Most runs scored in the last 5 overs of a T20I chase (including Full Member Nations)

87 - WI vs NZ, Auckland, 2025*

86 - ENG v WI, St George's, 2023

80 - AUS v IND, Guwahati, 2023

78 - SA v IND, Guwahati, 2022

10:53 pm What a match, what a run fest, what a rollercoaster ride for both teams! Once again, the game went down to the wire, but New Zealand pulled off a masterclass to snatch the win and level the series 1-1. New Zealand got the start they wanted when Duffy struck in the third ball of the innings, dismissing Brandon King. Athanaze looked in fine touch, but Sodhi was introduced and struck immediately, sending him back after a quick 33 off 25. West Indies began losing wickets in clusters, but Rovman Powell and Shepherd ignited an insane comeback with a blistering 62-run partnership off just 24 balls. Shepherd departed after a blitz cameo of 34 runs off 16 balls. Powell and Forde continued the rampage, striking massive sixes in a 47-run partnership off 18 balls. The game looked sealed for the visitors, who needed only 6 runs off 3 deliveries with Powell, who scored a devastating 45 off 15 balls on strike. However, Jamieson had other plans. He turned the game on its head with brilliant slower balls, getting the wicket of Powell and then nailing his slow deliveries right till the end to get his team over the line. West Indies scored an incredible 87 runs in the last five overs, but in the end, it was Jamieson and New Zealand who had the last smile on this insane run fest.

Ken: "My goodness what a fight.....one to be remembered for a long, long time!"

New Zealand won by 3 runs

5 runs needed from the last ball. 4 needed for a super over.

Hosein in. 6 runs needed from 2 balls. Another long discussion between Santner and Jamieson. Forde is having a word with Hosein too.

Free Hit

Ibrahim: "Three Sixes an over, who said its a problem? We will find out shortly. "

Right, folks. 16 needed from the last over. Looks like Jamieson will bowl. He takes his time and discusses with Santner.

Tejas: "Finally a four....thank god, got some green after so much purple!!"

30 needed from 12 deliveries, Duffy to bowl the penultimate over.

Tejas: "Oh the West Indies that we had been known for so long!"

Rihsi: "@Ibrahim, the color is purple and not blue"

Jamieson in, long discussion between Santner.

Ibrahim: "Its all blue, the commentary on the Cricinfo, so much fun here, must be exciting at the ground. "

Here's Matthew Forde with a strike rate of 145.7