Santner Leads New Zealand to Series Victory

New Zealand survived a tense finish to chase down a target of 189 and clinch the ODI series with one match remaining. The visitors appeared in serious trouble at 149 for 6 after losing wickets at regular intervals, but captain Mitchell Santner guided his side home with an unbeaten 34-run knock under pressure.

The dramatic turning point came late in the chase when New Zealand required only three runs to win with just one wicket in hand. Santner offered a chance in the 44th over, but a collision between fielders Alick Athanaze and Justin Greaves resulted in the catch being dropped. The missed opportunity proved costly as Santner struck a boundary on the first ball of the next over to seal victory and the series.

Earlier in the chase, Mark Chapman played a crucial role after New Zealand stumbled to 6 for 2. The left-hander scored 80 runs from 82 deliveries and rebuilt the innings with a composed approach. However, West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie brought the hosts back into contention by claiming five wickets and triggering a middle-order collapse.

Despite Motie’s impressive spell, Santner remained calm at the crease and combined with last-man Jayden Lennox to complete the chase.

West Indies Struggle with the Bat

After being asked to bat, West Indies were bowled out for 188. The hosts failed to build substantial partnerships for most of their innings before Amir Jangoo and Gudakesh Motie added 81 runs together to provide some resistance.

However, the recovery came too late to push the total beyond a competitive score. New Zealand’s bowling attack maintained control throughout the innings, with Santner and Matthew Fisher picking up two wickets each.

The victory gives New Zealand a winning 3-1 lead heading into the final ODI and continues the team's strong form in limited-overs cricket.

Bangladesh Complete Comeback Against Zimbabwe

In Bulawayo, Bangladesh recovered from an opening-match defeat to win the final two games of the T20I series and secure a 2-1 triumph over Zimbabwe.

The visitors entered the decider under pressure after losing the first match of the series but responded strongly to claim their first T20I series victory of 2026.

For Zimbabwe, the match was significant for captain Sikandar Raza, who became the country's most-capped international cricketer across formats with his 314th appearance. The landmark, however, ended in disappointment as the hosts failed to defend a modest total.

Myers’ Fifty Not Enough

Zimbabwe struggled to accelerate after a promising start. Dion Myers scored a half-century and shared a 71-run partnership with Brian Bennett, helping the hosts establish a solid platform.

Bangladesh’s bowlers fought back brilliantly in the closing stages. The visitors conceded only 25 runs in the final four overs while taking four wickets, preventing Zimbabwe from posting a bigger score.

Mohammad Saifuddin was among the standout performers with the ball, claiming two important wickets during the death overs.

Tanzid Hasan Anchors the Chase

Bangladesh’s response was built around an impressive innings from Tanzid Hasan. The opener registered another half-century, reaching the milestone from 45 deliveries and recording the 13th fifty-plus score of his T20 career.

His knock placed him level with Shakib Al Hasan for the joint-most fifty-plus scores by a Bangladeshi player in T20 internationals. Partnerships with Parvez Hossain Emon and Towhid Hridoy ensured Bangladesh remained in control for most of the chase.

The match produced late drama when Brad Evans struck twice in the final over to revive Zimbabwe’s hopes. A controversial moment followed when an LBW appeal against Mehidy Hasan Miraz was ruled a dead ball, leading to discussions between players and umpires.

Bangladesh eventually ended the contest when a boundary reduced the target, sealing victory with two balls remaining and completing a successful comeback in the series.

While Bangladesh celebrated a morale-boosting T20I triumph, Zimbabwe will now turn its attention to the upcoming series against India, with middle-order inconsistency remaining a key concern.