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Patna : New Zealand beat West Indies (WI) by 47 runs in the first T20 International at Saxton Oval, Nelson, New Zealand, on December 29, 2017. New Zealand wicketkeeper Glenn Phillips, who made 55 in 40 balls hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes and also took three catches besides stumping a batsman in WI innings, was declared Man of the Match. WI is world champion in T20 format.
WI Captain Carlos Brathwaite won the toss but elected to bowl first. Batting first New Zealand made 187/7 in 20 overs with Phillips making 55, opener Colin Munro 53 in 37 balls hitting 6 fours and 2 sixes, and former Captain Ross Taylor 20 in 13 deliveries hitting a four and a six. Spinner Mitchell Santner remained not out on 23 in 11 balls hitting 2 fours and a six while Captain Tim Southeee remained unbeaten on 10 in five balls hitting 2 fours. For WI, Jerome Taylor and Carlos Brathwaite too two wickets each. S Badree, K Williams and A Nurse took one wicket each.
Set a target of 188 to win, WI were all out for 140 with A Fletcher being the top scorer making 27 in 25 balls hiting three fours and a six. Shai Hope made 15, Chris Gayle 12, Carlos Brathwaite 21, and seamer Jerome Taylor 20. A Nurse remained unbeaten on 21 in 9 balls hitting 2 fours and a six. For New Zealand, seamer Seth Rance took 3/30, fast bowler and Captain Tim Southee 3/36, and medium fast D Bracewell 2/10. Spinners Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi took one wicket each.
Shai Hope made his T20 International debut in the match and so did New Zealand batsman Anaru Kitchen and seamer Seth Rance. For Southee, it was his first tryst with captaincy and he won his first match as captain.