Chapman shines as New Zealand overcomes a tough challenge from West Indies to tie the series

Chapman shines as New Zealand overcomes a tough challenge from West Indies to tie the series

West Indies vs New Zealand: Mark Chapman’s blistering 78 off just 28 balls helped New Zealand edge past West Indies by three runs in a nail-biting second T20I at Eden Park, Auckland.

Mark Chapman powered New Zealand to their first T20I win of the home season with a blistering 78 off just 28 balls, helping them bounce back against West Indies at Eden Park. His explosive knock set up a total of 208, which proved just enough in a thrilling finish.

Chasing 208, West Indies were in deep trouble at 93 for 6 in the 13th over, needing more than 18 runs per over. But Rovman Powell launched a fierce counterattack in the final overs, bringing the equation down to 16 needed off the last over. After Matthew Forde hit two quick boundaries, West Indies needed just 8 off 4 balls and looked favourites to win.

However, Kyle Jamieson turned the game around by dismissing Powell on the fourth ball with a clever slower delivery. Forde could only manage a single off the final ball, and West Indies fell short by three runs. It was a huge relief for New Zealand, especially after losing the first match of the series by seven runs at the same venue just a day earlier.

Chapman’s innings was the highlight of New Zealand’s batting, as he took full advantage of the batting-friendly conditions and dominated the middle and death overs. With the ball, spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner played key roles, sharing six wickets between them and putting West Indies on the back foot early in the chase.

The match also marked the return of DRS, which was unavailable in the series opener due to technical issues. The win ended West Indies’ five-match T20I winning streak and leveled the series in dramatic fashion.