West Indies vs New Zealand, 1st ODI, July 11, 2026

In a thrilling encounter at Providence Stadium, Guyana, West Indies emerged victorious against New Zealand by 7 wickets. The match was marked by a stellar batting performance from Keacy Carty and Shai Hope, while Alzarri Joseph shone with the ball for the hosts.

Match Summary

• Result: West Indies won by 7 wickets
• Top Scorer: Keacy Carty (95 runs), Shai Hope (87* runs)
• Best Bowling Performance: Alzarri Joseph (4 wickets for 41 runs)
• Player of the Match: Alzarri Joseph
• Notable Partnerships: Keacy Carty and Shai Hope put together a significant partnership to steer the chase.

Detailed Narrative

The match began with West Indies winning the toss and opting to bowl first. New Zealand posted a competitive total of 267 in their innings, thanks largely to Daryl Mitchell's well-crafted 65 runs off 73 balls. His innings included 7 fours and a six, providing stability in the middle order. Will Young also contributed with a solid 49 runs but fell just short of his half-century.

On the bowling front for West Indies, Alzarri Joseph was exceptional, claiming 4 wickets for just 41 runs in his spell of 8.5 overs. He was well-supported by Vitel Lawes, who took 3 wickets. Gudakesh Motie chipped in with 2 wickets as well, helping to restrict New Zealand to under 270.

Chasing 268, West Indies got off to a cautious start with John Campbell and Ackeem Auguste laying the foundation. However, it was the partnership between Keacy Carty and Shai Hope that truly anchored the innings. Carty played a brilliant knock of 95 runs off 112 balls, including 10 boundaries and two sixes. His dismissal came just shy of what would have been a well-deserved century.

Shai Hope's unbeaten innings of 87 off 92 deliveries was equally crucial as he guided West Indies home with ease. His innings featured four boundaries and four sixes, showcasing his ability to rotate strike and find the boundary when needed. Sherfane Rutherford added quick runs towards the end with an unbeaten cameo of 22 from just 16 balls.

New Zealand's bowlers struggled to make significant breakthroughs, with Jacob Duffy, Jayden Lennox, and Michael Bracewell each taking one wicket but failing to apply sustained pressure on the West Indian batsmen.

Overall, it was a comprehensive performance by West Indies that saw them take a well-deserved victory in this opening match of the series. Alzarri Joseph's impactful bowling set up the game beautifully for his side, earning him the Player of the Match award for his efforts.