New Zealand vs West Indies: Performances that mattered...

New Zealand vs West Indies: Performances that mattered...It was a must win match for New Zealand against West Indies, but they lost yet again in a super over to get knocked out of the tournament.

By the virtue of the win, West Indies have qualified for the semi-finals after Sri Lanka defeated England later in the day.

The match started on a good note for New Zealand and wickets at regular interval saw them bundle out Windies for 139.

The Kiwis in reply, played slowly in the beginning and the match went into the Super Over.

It was down to Super Overs and batting first Kiwis did well and scored 17 but then six by Marlon Samuels brought New Zealand campaign to an end.

Here are few hits and flops of the match:

West Indies:

Chris Gayle: He was the man who led the West Indies charge in the first while batting and then again in the Super Over. Gayle tormented New Zealand bowlers during his 14 balls 30 where he hit three fours and couple of sixes. It was his wicket that triggered a collapse for West Indies in the match. And in the super over in pursuit of 18, he got the chase off to a great start with a six on the first ball of the Tim Southee. He scored eight runs in the super overs.

Marlon Samuels: After a crucial 24 runs knock while batting, it was due to him that West Indies won the match. Taking strike in the last ball of the super over, West Indies required five runs to win, and Samuels hoisted Southee for a huge six to clinch an emphatic victory.

Sunil Narine: Narine had a very average outing in the tournament prior to this match, but perhaps he saved his best for this crucial match. He bowled with great intent and ran through Kiwis lower middle order. He ended the match with figures of 3-20 in four overs.

Flops:

Andre Russell: He came into bat at the number three position and should have batted much more responsibly. But then he got out playing a very bad shot. He scored just six runs.

New Zealand:

Hits:

Ross Taylor: The skipper led the innings from the front and was the only batsmen that showed intent while chasing the target. When wickets were tumbling at the other end, he held his ground and scored an unbeaten 62 off 40 deliveries which included three boundaries and as many sixes. Even in the super overs, he was phenomenal and helped them to a challenging 17 runs.

Doug Bracewell:  He was a livewire on the field and bowled beautifully to help New Zealand bundle out West Indies for a moderate total. Bracewell picked up three wickets by giving away 31 runs.

Flops:

Tim Southee: Southee has been their bowling spearhead for quite some time now.  Even in the match, he led the bowling attack and took three crucial wickets. But then in the super overs he was totally off colours. He was hit for a six in the first ball which incidentally was also a no ball and then on the fifth ball when West Indies required five runs, he bowled a full toss to Samuels. Samuel caught hold of the delivery and hit it for a six to register an epic victory.

By Indian Sports News Network