West Indies 172/7 (Shamarh Brooks 42 from 43, Jason Holder 25 from 19, Romario Shepherd 31 from 16, Odean Smith 3/32, Obed McCoy 1/39) lost to Blackcaps 185/5 (Devon Conway 43 off 29, Kane Williamson 47 off 33, Jimmy Neesham 33no off 15, Mitchell Santner 3/19) by 13 runs.
Too little, too late from the West Indies, who fall 13 runs short at Sabina Park. Click here for a full wrap.
20th over - 26 from 6 for the win. Southee starts with a single. Four sixes needed, and there's one from Shepherd. Neesham saves six! Bats the ball back while falling out over the rope. The reslt is out of question now.
19th over - 43 off 12 balls required. Crazier things have happened. Ferguson goes for a single off his first ball. Another full toss and it's given the treatment, four more. Smith crushes one over midwicket for six! The big man is on fire. Thick edge, Sodhi saves four. Smith times the last ball beautifully for four. 17 runs from the over.
18th over - Shepherd showcases some serious power, sending Boult over his head and into the stands. Another full toss goes for four. Bang! Six more. 19 off the over.
17th over - Ferguson continues. Smith bangs one deep, one bounce for four. Outside edge for four more. 10 off the over.
16th over - Boult sent for four in his first over back.
OUT - Straightforward catch for Phillips at deep midwicket.
Jason Holder c Phillips b Boult 25 (19b 3x4 0x6)
15th over - Sodhi to the mark. 87 runs required from 33 balls. Powell starts with intent, taking a knee and sending a ball deep into the stands. Dropped! Mitchell charging in, slides but can't make it stick.
OUT - Neesham does the damage the very next ball with a fantastic catch, running back from point to reel it in at full pace.
Rovman Powell c Neesham b Sodhi 18 (12b 0x4 2x6)
14th over - Southee back into the attack. Greeted by a six from Powell. Nine more from the over.
13th over - Holder lofts Sodhi for four. Still just nine runs from the over.
12th over - Holder skies one off Santner, Mitchell charging in but it falls just short. Six! Brooks advances and puts one into the cluds and over the rope at long-on.
OUT - Not this time! Brooks puts up an easy catch for Mitchell at long-on.
Shamarh Brooks c Mitchell b Santner 42 (43b 2x4 3x6)
11th over - Ferguson back into the attack. Just three runs from the over. Looking a tall order from here for the Windies.
10th over - Sodhi continues. Dot and a single to start. That required run rate is really creeping up now, sitting at 11.45. Holder goes over cover for four to send us to drinks.
9th over - Santner deceives Brooks with turn, getting some purchase off this wicket. Brooks finds a gap behind point for two. Santner's variation causing headaches here, just two runs off the over.
8th over - Brooks slams a low full toss from Sodhi over mid-wicket for six.
Sodhi raps Brooks' pads with an awkwardly low bouncing slow ball. Umpire raises his finger, Brooks reviews instantly and it's clearly down leg.
7th over - Santner continues.
OUT - Hetmyer pulls one straight down Neesham's throat at backward square leg, very soft dismissal.
Shimron Hetmyer c Neesham b Santner 2 (3b 0x4 0x6)
6th over - OUT - Lockie Ferguson strikes with his first ball! Got squeezed by the pace and sends a simple catch up in the air for Ish Sodhi at fine leg.
Devon Thomas c Sodhi b Ferguson 1 (3b 0x4 0x6)
Heistation on the run! Neesham might have thrown to the wrong end, the batsmen survive.
5th over - OUT - What a way to start for Santner. Pooran tried to pull a full delivery and skies an easy catch for Phillips.
Nicholas Pooran c Phillips b Santner 15 (8b 2x4 1x6)
Thomas scrambles for a tight single to get off the mark. Two runs and a wicket off the first Santner over.
4th over - Pooran stands tall and crushes Southee low and hard over long-on. Backs that up with another four, glancing down to fine leg. Pulls for two. Bang! Brooks uses the pace and flicks Southee into the carpark. 19 off the over.
3rd over - Boult begins with three dot balls. Just two runs off the over.
2nd over - Southee takes the ball.
OUT - Southee barely bothers to look back at the umpire for that LBW appeal. Windies choose to review. No dice, that's clearly out.
Kyle Mayers lbw b Southee 1 (4b 0x4 0x6)
Pooran drives a full toss for four top open his account. Promising levels of swing out there for Southee work with.
1st over - Trent Boult will open the NZ attack. Gets a slight touch on a tough caught and bowled chance. Late cut from Brooks for the first Windies boundary. Flicks one past midwicket for four more. Excellent start for the hosts.
INNINGS BREAK
A superb late cameo from Jimmy Neehsam, who blasted 33 off 15 balls to ensure the Blackcaps a formidable total on this ground.
Captain Kane Williamson anchored the innings with 47 off 33 balls, with opener Devon Conway chipping in 43 off 29.
Join us shortly for the Windies chase.
20th over - Holder tasked with the final over. Starts with a wide. Bang! Neesham blasts a tracer bullet over long-off that clears the rope and then some. Dropped! Shepherd drops a straightforward chance on the boundary, Neesham grabs two. Neesham sweeps for four! And another one, cuts square to the rope. Final ball - Four more! Three in a row to close for Neesham, 23 runs off the over.
19th over - McCoy to bowl the penultimate over. Santner pushes for two. Two dot balls, Neesham frustrated he missed out on one. Six! Neesham hits across the line and get a thick edge that carries over fine leg. Single to complete the over, 11 runs off it.
18th over - McCoy to the bowling crease. Single and a wide to start.
OUT - Another screamer on the boundary! Walsh dives and takes a two-handed catch to send the NZ skipper packing. Really useful innings, nonetheless.
Kane Williamson c Walsh b Smith 47 (33b 4x4 2x6)
Couple of singles to close an excellent over from Odean Smith, who finishes with career-best figures of 3/32.
17th over - Six! Mitchell hoists McCoy over long-on, stood and delivered there.
OUT - Windies go up for caught behind, umpire agrees. Mitchell chooses to review and he's unsuccessful.
Daryl Mitchell c Thomas b McCoy 16 (12b 0x4 1x6)
16th over - Shepherd takes the ball. Crunchtime here for the NZ innings. Mitchell whips one square off his pads, one bounce for four. Four more! Hits a full toss back over the bowler's head and dissects the boundary fielders. Six! Williamson pulls powerfully over square leg. Big over for NZ, 16 runs from it.
15th over - Smith into the attack. Mitchell pulls for two. They'll need to start accelerating here, run rate currently sits at just 7.72 runs. Six! That will help, Williamson hoisting a slower ball over the long-off boundary.
14th over - Holder is back. Windies have been sharp in the field today, have cut several twos to ones. NZ haven't found the boundary for a while. Williamson dropped! Hooks one that Mayers gets a hand to but can't hold at short fine leg.
13th over - Walsh to bowl his final over. 100 up via a Mitchell single. Six from the over.
12th over - Right, where were we? There's a reserve of 1.5 hours at Sabina Park, meaning we won't lose any overs due to the rain.
Williamson cuts late for a single to get us back underway.
OUT - Phillips can't get a full blade on his hook and he spoons a catch to short fine leg.
Glenn Phillips c Mayers b Holder 17 (11b 1x4 1x6)
8:55am - Play will restart at 9:10am (NZ time).
8:30am - Good news, cricket fans. The covers are off and the sun is out. The pitch will be inspected in 15 minutes. A return to play is imminent.
8:13am - The drizzle has reportedly become lighter at Kingston. Fingers crossed we're not too far from returning to some cricket.
7:45am - Rain has become a bit heavier at Sabina Park. We will keep you posted on any developments.
12th over - Williamson advances and cuts Holder's first ball for four.
Weather deteriorating here and the rain has started to tumble. The players are on their way off but don't expect too much of a delay here.
11th over - Phillips signals his intent after drinks, blasting Walsh back over his head for six.
10th over - Phillips slashes Smith over backward point for four. Six runs from the over.
9th over - Walsh with a tight over, two new batsmen looking to get set. Just four runs off the over.
8th over - Guptill gets a thick edge on his cut shot and it flies over the keeper's head for four. OUT - Unbelievable catch on the boundary! Hetmeyer running full gas around the backward point boundary and plucks it out of the sky with a single hand without breaking stride.
Martin Guptill c Hetmyer b Smith 16 (17b 1x4 1x6)
OUT - Conway gloves it attempting to pull and keeper does really well to change direction and get a glove underneath it. Back-to-back wickets.
Devon Conway c Thomas b Smith 43 (29b 4x4 2x6)
Hat-trick ball is called for wide. Williamson cuts for four to get off the mark and end an eventful over.
7th over - Hayden Walsh in with some spin. Conway sweeps, only gets a tickle on it but fine enough to run for four. Conway reverse sweeps, half-hearted shout for LBW.
6th over - Shepherd continues. Conway flicks one off his pads for two. Comway hooks one on its way for six. He is looking sharp today.
5th over - Guptill launches McCoy off his pads and over mid-wicket for six. Steady start from these two.
4th over - Romario Shepherd in with his medium pace. Crafty shot from Conway, who plays a premeditated paddle fine for four.
3rd over - Obed McCoy into the attack. Conway cramped up, too close to cut and gets a thick underside edge for four. Fortunate result. Superb fielding at point saves four.
2nd over - Jason Holder to bowl. Conway cuts late, they scamper back for two. Lovely cover drive from Conway for four to close.
1st over - Mayers to open with the ball for the Windies. Guptill gets some bottom edge on the third ball to get the NZ account started. Conway spoils a tight over by lofting a cover drive for six off the final ball.
6:07am - Morning, cricket tragics. Conditions are looking great in Jamaica, as you'd expect.
Nicholas Pooran has won the toss and the Blackcaps will bat first at Sabina Park.
Blackcaps XI: Conway, Guptill, Williamson, Phillips, Mitchell, Neesham, Santner, Sodhi, Southee, Ferguson, Boult.
Play will get underway at 6:30am (NZ time).
___________________________________________________________________________
Kia ora and welcome to Newshub's coverage of the opening Twenty20 international between the Blackcaps and the West Indies at Kingston.
The match kicks off a tour that includes three T20s matches, with a three-match one-day international series to follow.
After their test sweep at the hands of England, the Blackcaps are coming off an 11-game unbeaten stretch through Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
But they'll face an enormous step up in competition against the Windies, who are always a handful in the Caribbean.
Join us for all of the action from Thursday, 6:30am (NZ time)
TAB betting odds:
Blackcaps - $1.56 West Indies - $2.30
Boult to take 'significantly reduced role' with Blackcaps after being granted early release from contract
NZ Cricket has agreed to grant star Blackcaps bowler Trent Boult an early release from his contract to allow him to spend more time with his family.
The move means Boult - who has taken 317 test wickets, 169 at one-day international level, and 62 in Twenty20 international cricket - will have a significantly reduced role with the Blackcaps during his final years in the game, while still being eligible for selection if and when available.
The 33-year-old also intends to play more domestic cricket for his Northern Districts side.
"This has been a really tough decision for me and I'd like to thank NZC for their support in getting to this point," said Boult.
"Playing cricket for my country was a childhood dream and I’m so proud of everything I’ve been able to achieve with the Blackcaps over the past 12 years.
"Ultimately this decision is about my wife Gert and our three young boys. Family has always been the biggest motivator for me and I feel comfortable with putting it first and preparing ourselves for life after cricket."
Boult said he understood the move would diminish his chances of playing for the Blackcaps.
"I still have a big desire to represent my country and feel I have the skills to deliver at international level," he added.
"However, I respect the fact that not having a national contract will affect my chances of selection.
"Having said that, as a fast bowler I know I have a limited career span, and I feel the time is right to move into this next phase."
The criteria for Boult's availability for future Blackcaps matches remains unclear. NZC chief executive David White said it would be on a "case by case" basis, but added he thought Boult's participation could be limited to "global world events", referring to World Cups.
White pointed to the demands of managed isolation over the past two years as one of the main drivers behind Boult's decision.
He also suggested Boult's focus would now be on global T20 leagues, confirming an announcement on his next destination is "imminent".
White said they understood and respected Boult's decision to prioritise his family at this stage of his career, but reiterated the impact it would have on his chances for future selection.
"He's been completely honest and up-front with us about his reasoning and, while we’re sad to be losing him as a fully-contracted player, he leaves with our best wishes and our sincere thanks," said White.
"Trent’s made a massive contribution to the Blackcaps since his test debut in late 2011 and is now considered one of the best multi-format cricketers in the world. We're very proud of what he's achieved.
"We've had several conversations and I know Trent understands that, in terms of selection, NZC will continue to make a priority of those players with either central or domestic contracts."
Boult is currently with the Blackcaps in the Caribbean, where they will play the first of three T20 matches on Thursday morning (NZ time).
