In a nail-biting encounter at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand narrowly defeated the West Indies by three runs in the second match of their five-game T20 series on November 6. The Black Caps set a formidable target of 207/5, thanks to a blistering 78-run knock from Mark Chapman, who smashed seven sixes and six fours in just 28 balls. Contributions from Tim Robinson (39), Daryl Mitchell (28*), and skipper Mitchell Santner (18*) further bolstered the total. For the West Indies, Roston Chase led the bowling attack with figures of 2/33, supported by Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, and Romario Shepherd, who each claimed a wicket. Chasing 208, the West Indies struggled early as opener Brandon King fell for a duck. Despite a brief recovery from Alick Athanaze (33) and Shai Hope (24), the middle order faltered, leaving the team at 93/6. Rovman Powell (45) and Romario Shepherd (34) reignited hopes with a 62-run partnership, but Powell’s dismissal in the final over dashed their chances. Matthew Forde’s late 29-run cameo wasn’t enough as the West Indies fell short at 204/8. Santner (3/31) and Ish Sodhi (3/39) were the standout bowlers for New Zealand. The series is now tied 1-1, with the third T20 scheduled for November 8 at Saxton Oval.