New Zealand beat West Indies by five wickets in ‘high-scoring’ first T20I

New Zealand defeated the West Indies by five wickets in a rain-affected first T20I fixture of the series at Auckland’s Eden Park on Friday.

The Black Caps finished on 179-5 after being set a target of 176 in a match where the innings were reduced to 16 overs due to regular showers.

Santner the finisher! Closes the 1st KFC T20 with a six off Pollard. Santner perfectly compliments @JimmyNeesh's innings of 48* (his highest T20I score for NZ). Santner finishes 31* to help the team home by 5 wickets. Scorecard | https://t.co/nmoISKJLui #NZvWI pic.twitter.com/gLe2awkpUq

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 27, 2020

New Zealand bowler Lockie Ferguson was the match of the match after claiming a career-best haul of 5-21.

Ferguson has FIVE! Just the second player to do it for the BLACKCAPS in T20I cricket (Tim Southee the other). @windiescricket 146/7 in the 14 over. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/nmoISKJLui #NZvWI pic.twitter.com/UpTvpsvVmZ

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 27, 2020

West Indies captain Kieron Pollard was the stand-out performer for the tourists with an unbeaten 75 from 37 balls which included eight sixes and four boundaries.

He led Windies to 180/7 in 16 overs. Andre Fletcher blazed 14-ball 34 while Fabien Allem made 26-ball 30. NZ’s skipper Tim Southee claimed two for 22.

7️⃣5️⃣* runs
8️⃣ Sixes
4️⃣ Fours

Kieron Pollard packed a punch in his 37-ball knock in the #NZvWI opener, bringing up his highest T20I score in the process

What A Player! pic.twitter.com/j8MKeSbbzU

— ICC (@ICC) November 27, 2020

The Kiwis chased down the target in the last over courtesy of Mitchell Santner’s 18-ball 31 while Jimmy Neesham remained unbeaten on 48 off 24 balls.

Debutant Devon Conway was the other recognized batter, scoring 41 in 29 balls. Oshane Thomas picked two wickets while Sheldon Cottrell and Pollard claimed one each.

Devon Conway's superb debut innings comes to an end on 41 off 29 balls, picking out short third-man

Santner joins Neesham at the crease, 29 off 18 balls required

WATCH the thrilling finish on @sparknzsport VISIT https://t.co/Ys0K2N9lSm #NZvWI #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/aZ3uDQcT0V

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 27, 2020

The next fixture in the three-match series will be played in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.

Read: Pakistan’s isolation behaviour ‘significantly improved’: NZ govt