West Indies and New Zealand faced each other in the first game of the three-match T20I series at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica on Wednesday (August 10).

Asked to bat first, the visitors posted 185/5 on the board with vital contributions from skipper Kane Williamson (47 off 33 balls), Devon Conway (43* off 29 balls) and Jimmy Neesham (33* off 15 balls).

Odean Smith starred with the ball for the West Indies, returning with the figures of 3 for 32 in his four overs.

Besides Smith’s bowling, Shimron Hetmyer’s outstanding catch to dismiss Martin Guptill was another positive takeaway for the hosts from the first innings.

During the 8th over of New Zealand’s innings, Guptill made room and played a cut shot in the air towards deep backward point. Hetmyer anticipated the catch brilliantly as he ran around from sweeper cover, and leaped up with his left hand to pluck the ball out of thin air.

 Here’s the video:

Coming to the match, New Zealand restricted West Indies to 172/7 while defending the total. While the Caribbean batters got starts, they failed to take the team over the line. Shamarh Brooks (42 off 43 balls) played a steady knock at the top after a collapse whereas Romario Shepherd (31* off 16) and Odea Smith (27* off 12) took the home team close to the target in the death overs.

For the BlackCaps, Mitchell Santner was the stand-out bowler, claiming three wickets by conceding 19 runs in his four overs.