West Indies fall narrowly short on emotional day in Barbados
Shai Hope was proud of his side's fight but disappointed they couldn't get across the line to honour West Indies great Sir Garfield Sobers.
There were mixed emotions for West Indies captain Shai Hope as his team fell agonisingly short of honouring the great Sir Garfield Sobers when they were defeated by New Zealand by one-wicket in a tight ODI contest in Barbados on Sunday.
Sobers passed away at the age of 89 on Friday and both the West Indies and New Zealand wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence before play began at Kensington Oval in an ODI contest that went right down to the wire as the visitors escaped with a narrow win.
The West Indies could only muster 188 with the bat after they were sent in by New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner, but an inspired bowling performance from Gudakesh Motie (5/47) provided the hosts some hope.
Jayden Lennox joined Santner at the crease with nine runs still remaining for victory, but the experienced New Zealand skipper held his nerve to guide the Kiwis home as they opened up an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-game series.
While Hope was disappointed with the result, the West Indies captain was thrilled with how his side fought hard right until the end and played the game in the spirit that Sobers would have been proud of.
“It hasn't really sunk in yet but it's been a really good cricket game for the onlookers,” Hope said.
"If you watch a game like this as a neutral you're going to be really happy to see play like this.
“It was one that could have gone to either side. It was a good game of cricket and I must commend our guys for the fight they showed at the backend.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't get that win for the great man (Sobers), but hopefully we can turn things around on Tuesday (in the series finale)."
The scenes were more joyouys in the New Zealand camp after the series-clinching victory, with Santner adjudged Player of the Match for his unbeaten 34* and two wickets with the ball.
“It was pretty chaotic, especially the ending,” Santner said after the match.
"You try to chip off the total as much as you can. Even partnerships of 10 or 15 at that stage was going a long way.
“It probably shouldn't have got that close but it was nice to get over the line.”
Series schedule:
First ODI: West Indies won by seven wickets
Second ODI: New Zealand won by five wickets
Third ODI: New Zealand won by six wickets
Fourth ODI: New Zealand won by one wicket
Fifth ODI: Barbados, July 22