T20 World Cup co-hosts West Indies superior to the Tremendous Eight stage after beating New Zealand by 13 runs in Trinidad on Wednesday.
A second straight defeat leaves New Zealand needing Papua New Guinea to assert an unlikely win over Afghanistan to have any hopes of progressing.
After the highest order slumped to 30 for 5, Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for the West Indies with an unbeaten 68 off 39 balls. He hit six sixes to take his facet to a aggressive of 149 for 9.
Veteran tempo bowler Trent Boult completed with three wickets for the Kiwis.
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New Zealand misplaced opener Devon Conway early and regardless of 26 from Finn Allen, they misplaced wickets steadily as Gudakesh Motie claimed three for 25.
All-rounder Glenn Phillips made a valiant 40 however the West Indian bowlers made it robust going, Alzarri Joseph claiming 4 for 10.
Solely a late cameo from spinner Mitch Santner, who smashed three sixes in his 21 not out, lifted their reply to 136 for 9.
Afghanistan will be part of the West Indies within the final eight in the event that they make it three wins out of three towards Papua New Guinea on Thursday evening.
TRINIDAD, WI couldn’t have finished this with out you.
Thanks.#WIREADY | #T20WorldCup | #WIvNZ pic.twitter.com/PmBsEYefvr
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) June 13, 2024