West Indies beat New Zealand by 2 wickets in the 5th ODI; New Zealand takes the series 3-2

Shimron Hetmyer held his nerve late within the run chase to make an unbeaten 69 and steer West Indies to a two-wicket win over New Zealand on Tuesday (July 22, 2026) within the fifth and last one-day cricket worldwide.

New Zealand took the sequence 3-2, clinching it in Recreation 4 after profitable Recreation 2 by 5 wickets and Recreation 3 by six wickets in a comeback following West Indies’ seven-wicket victory within the opening recreation.

Hetmyer’s fifth ODI half-century and his partnership of 95 with Sherfane Rutherford (61) allowed the West Indies to succeed in 269-8 in reply to New Zealand’s 268-9 with 15 balls remaining. All 5 matches within the sequence have been gained by the group batting second.

When Hetmyer and Rutherford have been collectively in a fifth-wicket partnership that constructed on the muse set by Shai Hope (39) and Keacy Carty (20) — who placed on 59 for the third wicket — West Indies regarded like profitable with ease.

Swinging momentum

However the match was a seesawing encounter. Rutherford was out when West Indies was 218-5, needing 41 to win with nearly 10 overs remaining, after which Gudakesh Motie fell at 239-6.

When Jacob Duffy dismissed Matthew Forde and Alzarri Joseph with consecutive deliveries within the forty fifth over, and with 21 runs nonetheless wanted for a West Indies win, the complexion of the match modified once more.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner made the weird choice to take left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox out of the assault after he had taken 3-35 from 9 overs. Hetmyer hit two sixes off Duffy within the forty seventh over and West Indies received dwelling with greater than two overs to spare.

Lennox took 14 wickets at a median of 13.6 and was voted participant of the sequence.

“I wasn’t actually enthusiastic about getting a half-century to be trustworthy, I used to be simply enthusiastic about how … I can ensure the group crosses the road,” Hetmyer mentioned. “Each time a brand new batter got here out I used to be similar to be sure you’re there on the finish.’ I am simply completely happy that I might be there to ensure we crossed the road.” New Zealand seemed to be heading for a a lot greater complete when it was 181-3 within the thirty fifth over and 230-5 with 5 overs to go. Will Younger made 56, Tom Latham made 69 and Nick Kelly scored 64 to drive the innings. However the end was lacking towards tight bowling, particularly from Alzarri Joseph, who took 2-38 from his 10 overs.

Run chase begins shortly

West Indies’ innings started at greater than eight runs per over by the primary 5 overs.

Then, in a double setback, it misplaced openers Ackeem Auguste and Justin Greaves within the house of 5 deliveries. Nonetheless, the house group was scoring at extra seven runs per over after 10 overs as Hope and Carty stored up the tempo.

New Zealand started to use strain by the spinners, Carty confronted a sequence of dot balls and after reaching 118-2, each he and Hope fell inside three overs.

Hope fell to a poor ball from Lennox which he tried to hoist over the leg facet area however pulled to Kristian Clarke coming off the fence at midwicket.

Keacy was annoyed to be pinned down and eventually slashed throughout the road at a straight ball from Lennox which hit center stump.

Rutherford stepped up first to revive the innings and located a like-minded associate in Hetmyer, who was decided to be in on the end.