Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Shimron Hetmyer struck an unbeaten 69 to guide the West Indies to a two-wicket victory over New Zealand in the fifth ODI on Tuesday at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. The result gave the hosts a winning finish, although New Zealand claimed the series 3-2.
The West Indies reached 8-269 in 47.3 overs after New Zealand posted 9-268. All five matches were won by the chasing team, making late-innings control the defining pattern of the series.
Elsewhere in short-form cricket, Nicholas Pooran powered MI London to an opening Hundred victory.
Shimron Hetmyer Holds Firm
Shimron Hetmyer shared a 95-run fifth-wicket stand with Sherfane Rutherford, who made 61 after Shai Hope scored 39. The chase tightened when Sherfane Rutherford departed at 5-218 and Jacob Duffy later removed Matthew Forde and Alzarri Joseph with successive balls.
With 21 still required, Shimron Hetmyer struck two sixes off Jacob Duffy in the 47th over. The official Cricket West Indies series page records the victory with 15 balls remaining.
"I wasn't really thinking about getting a half-century to be honest, I was just thinking about how ... I can make sure the team crosses the line," Shimron Hetmyer said.
New Zealand Misses Bigger Total
Will Young scored 56, Nick Kelly made 64 and Tom Latham added 69, but New Zealand lost late momentum. Alzarri Joseph returned 2-38 from 10 overs as the visitors collected only 38 runs after reaching 5-230.
Jayden Lennox finished with 3-35 but was removed from the attack after nine overs. His 14 wickets at an average of 13.6 earned him player-of-the-series honours despite the final defeat.
