The Black Caps are all but out of this year’s Twenty20 World Cup, after suffering a second straight defeat, losing to hosts the West Indies by 13 runs in Trinidad and Tobago.
The loss feels like it brings to an end an incredible run of tournament results for New Zealand, who have made the semifinals at least of the last six World Cups, across both 20- and 50-over cricket, dating back to 2015.
In particular, the decision not to play any warm-up fixtures was exposed again, as the Kiwi batting unit struggled in unfamiliar conditions, as the hosts’ spinners took hold.
Defeat is an even harder pill to swallow, after having the West Indies on the ropes at 112/9 batting first. A late blitz from Sherfane Rutherford (68 not out off 39) set the Black Caps 150 for victory, only to respond with 136/9.
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