New Zealand held their nerve in a dramatic finish to defeat West Indies by one wicket in the fourth ODI at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown. Chasing a modest target of 189, the visitors were pushed to the brink by Gudakesh Motie‘s sensational five-wicket haul before Mitchell Santner guided them over the line. The thrilling victory gave New Zealand an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series with one game still to play.
Amir Jangoo and Gudakesh Motie rescue West Indies after early setbacks
After winning the toss, New Zealand opted to bowl first and quickly justified the decision. West Indies captain Shai Hope fell for just two runs, while Keacy Carty and Sherfane Rutherford also failed to convert their starts. Ackeem Auguste looked comfortable during his 33 off 50 balls before departing, leaving the hosts under pressure.
Amir Jangoo then produced a composed knock of 51 from 73 deliveries, anchoring the innings through the middle overs. He found valuable support from Motie, who played an enterprising innings of 41 off 56 balls, striking three boundaries and a six. Their partnership helped West Indies recover from a difficult position and push towards a competitive total.
The lower order could not add many more runs as Matthew Fisher led New Zealand’s bowling attack with figures of 3 for 40. Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell claimed two wickets each, while Nathan Smith and Jayden Lennox chipped in with one wicket apiece. West Indies were eventually bowled out for 188 in 44.4 overs.
Mark Chapman leads chase before Motie sparks dramatic collapse
New Zealand’s reply began poorly when Henry Nicholls was dismissed without scoring. Will Young added a brisk 20, but the visitors slipped to 26 for 2 after Nick Kelly‘s departure. Mark Chapman then produced the innings that held the chase together, smashing an aggressive 80 off just 82 balls with eight fours and four sixes. His attacking strokeplay shifted the momentum firmly towards New Zealand.
Michael Bracewell contributed a useful 32 from 31 deliveries, while Santner added a crucial 34 off 56 balls to keep the chase on track. However, West Indies refused to give up as Motie produced an outstanding spell of left-arm spin. He ripped through the middle and lower order to finish with remarkable figures of 5 for 47 from his 10 overs, dragging the contest into a tense final phase.
Despite Motie’s heroics, New Zealand’s lower-order batters managed to scrape together the remaining runs. The visitors reached 189 for 9 in 44.1 overs, sealing victory with just one wicket in hand.
Black Caps clinch series ahead of final ODI
Santner was named Player of the Match for his all-round contribution, taking two wickets with the ball before scoring a vital 34 runs under pressure. Fisher’s three-wicket spell also proved decisive in restricting West Indies to a below-par total. For the hosts, Motie emerged as the standout performer with both bat and ball, while Jangoo’s half-century provided stability after an early collapse. However, West Indies ultimately fell just short despite producing a spirited fightback.
With victories in the second, third and fourth ODIs, New Zealand have now secured the series 3-1. West Indies had taken the opening match by seven wickets, but the Black Caps responded impressively to claim three consecutive wins. The two teams will now meet in the fifth and final ODI at Providence Stadium on Tuesday, July 21, where New Zealand will look to finish the tour on a high while West Indies aim to end the series with a consolation victory.
Windies fought really hard but at the end New Zealand chase the target & take the series 3-1 👏#WIvNZ #NewZealand #ODICricket pic.twitter.com/5vFatMX51v
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) July 20, 2026
