Chapman blitz leads Black Caps to tight T20 victory over West Indies

Chapman Powers New Zealand to Narrow T20 Victory

Mark Chapman’s explosive batting helped New Zealand secure a narrow three-run win over West Indies in the second T20 match at Eden Park, Auckland, on Thursday night.

Match Summary

New Zealand posted a total of 207 for 5, with Chapman scoring a commanding 78 runs off just 28 deliveries. His innings included seven sixes and six fours, turning the momentum in New Zealand’s favor.

West Indies’ Response

The West Indies lineup fought back strongly with notable power hitting from Romario Shepherd, Rovman Powell, and Matthew Forde. The match came down to the final ball, with Forde needing a boundary to tie the game, but he managed only a single.

Series Status

The five-match T20 series is now tied at 1-1.

Pitch and Conditions

West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and elected to field on a pitch that proved challenging for the batters. Early on, New Zealand struggled to 81 for 2 after 12 overs, with Chapman initially finding it tough to time the ball on the tricky two-paced surface.

"Chapman was 12 from nine balls at the time, struggling for timing on a pitch that was two-paced and tricky when bowlers pitched short. But then the timing fell into place and Chapman scored 66 runs from his next 19 balls."

Three out of four overs following Chapman’s timing breakthrough went for over 20 runs, showcasing his impact during the middle overs.

Author’s Summary

Chapman’s explosive innings proved pivotal, guiding New Zealand to a hard-fought victory that kept the T20 series evenly poised with two matches played.

RFI — 2025-11-06