Chapman makes his mark as NZ hold on in T20 thriller

Chapman Shines as New Zealand Narrowly Defeats West Indies in T20 Thriller

Mark Chapman delivered a remarkable innings, scoring 78 runs off just 28 balls, including a swift half-century from 19 deliveries, to help New Zealand secure a thrilling three-run victory over the West Indies and level their T20 series at 1-1. The match took place at Eden Park, Auckland.

Chapman’s Dominant Performance

Chapman's explosive batting saw New Zealand accumulate 100 runs between the ninth and 16th overs, finishing with a total of 5-207 after being sent in to bat. His aggressive stroke-play, featuring multiple sixes and fours, was crucial to setting a challenging target for the visitors.

West Indies’ Comeback Attempt

The West Indies began their chase under pressure, struggling against New Zealand’s effective spin attack and losing six wickets for 94 runs at 13 overs. However, a powerful resurgence driven by Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, and Matthew Forde pushed the score to a tense finish.

With three wickets in hand, the West Indies needed 16 runs off the final over, bowled by Kyle Jamieson.

Final Over Drama

Jamieson started with conceding boundaries, including a no-ball, but managed to claim Powell's wicket caught by Chapman on the fourth ball. Despite this, the tourists required six runs from the last two deliveries but could only score three, ending their innings at 8-204.

“The West Indies boys, they're so strong they're never really out of the game,” Chapman said. “It was amazing that the boys held their nerve at the end.”

Chapman’s Key Contributions

Chapman’s turnaround was dramatic, moving from 12 runs off 10 balls to 65 off 22 balls. He particularly dominated the 13th over, hitting 24 runs—three sixes included—off Romario Shepherd’s bowling, and followed that with four fours and a six in the 15th over from Jayden Seales.

Chapman completed the match by taking three catches, earning him the player-of-the-match award.

New Zealand’s victory showcased the importance of resilience and clutch performances in tightly contested T20 matches.

Author’s Summary: Mark Chapman’s explosive innings and sharp fielding helped New Zealand eke out a narrow victory against a resilient West Indies side in a thrilling T20 contest.

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The Canberra Times The Canberra Times — 2025-11-06

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