In Match 17 of the CC25, West Indies delivered another dominant performance to crush New Zealand by 59 runs, led by a breathtaking innings from Nicholas Pooran, who smashed 59 runs off just 17 balls to set up a mammoth total.
Batting first, West Indies piled up 152/9 in 10 overs, thanks largely to Pooran’s explosive stroke play that dismantled the Kiwi attack. He struck boundaries and sixes at will, maintaining a staggering strike rate of 347.06. Jason Holder (22 off 9) and Brandon King (19 off 7) provided crucial support, while quick cameos from Romario Shepherd (14 off 5) and Akeal Hosein (12 off 5) ensured a strong finish. Despite the run-fest, New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi (3/37) and James Neesham (2/34) managed to claim key wickets, while Lockie Ferguson also picked up 2 for 23.
In response, New Zealand’s chase never gained momentum as Alzarri Joseph’s fiery opening spell dismantled their top order. Joseph took 3 wickets for just 8 runs, removing Conway, Chapman, and Ravindra in quick succession. The Kiwis were soon reduced to 1/3, and though Ish Sodhi (39 off 12) tried to stage a late fight with a flurry of boundaries, his effort wasn’t enough to recover from the collapse. Mitchell Santner (18 off 11) and Lockie Ferguson (10 off 6) offered brief resistance, but wickets kept tumbling as they were bundled out for 93 in 8.3 overs.
For the West Indies, Kyle Mayers (3/22) complemented Joseph’s fiery spell, while Obed McCoy (2/14) and Jason Holder (1/26) ensured the lower order was wrapped up quickly.
With this emphatic victory, West Indies continued their strong run in the CC25 tournament, showcasing both power-hitting and bowling dominance. Nicholas Pooran deservedly claimed the Player of the Match award for his stunning 17-ball 59 that completely changed the course of the game.