What a thrilling match! If you felt this world cup was boring, the last two days have given us some pulsating action, none more than this one between West Indies and New Zealand. A match from the top drawer. Carlos Brathwaite nearly pulled it off. He held his nerves well, and so did Trent Boult as he took a tricky catch at long on to deny West Indies a win, and gave Brathwaite some agony despite possibly the finest century of the tournament. New Zealand have maintained their winning run in the tournament with this five-run win. But West Indies really pushed them tonight.
West Indies vs New Zealand, Match 29 - Live Cricket Score, Commentary
Series: ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Venue: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester Date & Time: Jun 22, 01:30 PM LOCAL
New Zealand have been unbeaten in the ongoing world cup © Getty
What a turnaround this has been. Matt Henry has been hammered for 25 runs off the 48th over. The equation has come down to 8 runs off the last two overs. And it's that man again - Carlos Brathwaite - responsible for this. Do you remember the name?
WICKET A fine fighting partnership of 47 runs comes to an end. Kemar Roach falls. A much needed breakthrough for New Zealand just when it seemed that West Indies were fighting their way back into the contest.
WICKET Evin Lewis hobbled his way to the crease but he could just survive for three balls. He pulls a short delivery to the deep square leg fielder. Trent Boult gets his fourth wicket.
WICKET Trent Boult comes back into the attack and strikes rightaway. Ashley Nurse edges a pull to the 'keeper, and leaves West Indies reeling at 163 for 6. However, the injured Evin Lewis has walked out to bat at No 8.
WICKET Chris Gayle's entertainment is over, folks! Looking to go for another big hit, he holes out to the fielder at long on. And guess who the bowler is? Colin de Grandhomme, the same player Kane Williamson was holding back against Gayle's assault for the longest time in the innings. His golden arm comes to the rescue yet again.
WICKET Lockie Ferguson strikes again. Two wickets in two balls for him. Jason Holder gets out for a first ball duck, edging to the 'keeper. With not a lot of depth in West Indies' batting, New Zealand are right back in the contest.
WICKET And when pace wasn't good enough, Lockie Ferguson outfoxed Shimron Hetmyer with a slower ball and hit the stumps. A much-needed breakthrough for New Zealand.
FIFTY Shimron Hetmyer joins Chris Gayle's party, brings up his fifty with a pull for a six off Lockie Ferguson. The six-fest continues from both ends.
Two dropped catches in the 18th over, and Gayle's good day continues.
FIFTY A few fours here, a sixes there and Chris Gayle has brought up his fifty. His quick runs have helped West Indies bring up their century in the 17th over itself.
FIFTY PARTNERSHIP Chris Gayle and Shimron Hetmyer are on an overdrive and in a matter of 28 balls brought up their half-century stand. It is turning out to be a bit of a boundary-fest for now.
WICKET West Indies have finally struck. It's the golden arm of Chris Gayle that does the trick to break the third wicket stand. Ross Taylor falls after steadying New Zealand's innings in company of skipper Kane Williamson.
FIFTIES Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor have come to New Zealand's rescue yet again. The duo has brought up its respective fifties and helped New Zealand set a good platform.
FIFTY PARTNERSHIP: It's been slow going for Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, on a wicket that Brendon McCullum believed was a belter, but the duo has steadied New Zealand's innings withy yet another half century stand.
New Zealand have chugged along very slowly after losing both the openers in the opening over. 30 for 2 in 10 overs.
WICKET Sheldon Cottrell has struck again. Colin Munro is bowled. Both the openers are out in the first over and the bowler brings out the salute celebration.
WICKET Martin Guptill is dismissed off the first ball of the match. Sheldon Cottrell traps him legbefore but the umpire doesn't give him out. West Indies take the review and have the decision overturned.
PITCH REPORT: Brendon McCullum calls this pitch as the 'best seen in the world cup so far'. In essence, he means to say that it is a belter of a wicket and lots of runs are expected. However, Michael Holding believes there will be something in it for the spinners, which makes Ashley Nurse's comeback into the Playing XI a good choice.
TOSS West Indies won the toss and elected to field. They have made three changes to their side. Carlos Brathwaite comes in for the injured Andre Russell. Shannon Gabriel and Darren Bravo left out for Kemar Roach and Ashley Nurse.
New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(w), James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
West Indies (Playing XI): Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope(w), Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder(c), Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Oshane Thomas, Kemar Roach, Sheldon Cottrell
Hello and welcome to Match 29 of the ICC World Cup 2019, between New Zealand and West Indies. New Zealand have been unbeaten in the tournament so far, and sitting on top of the table, they find themselves almost assured of a semifinal berth. West Indies, on the other hand, are only open to a wide mathematical possibility of finishing in the top four.
We will be bringing you the live updates of the New Zealand vs West Indies match. You can join in as well with your views and questions.
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