Carty, Hope, Joseph pilot Windies to empathic 7-wicket win

Jul 12, 2026 Sports

2026 New Zealand tour of West Indies ODI series…

Carty, Hope, Joseph pilot Windies to empathic 7-wicket win

Shai Hope pulls a six. (AFP/Getty Images)

…draw first blood at Providence

By Clifton Ross

Kaieteur Sports – Cracking half-centuries from Keacy Carty and skipper Shai Hope, reinforced by pacer Alzarri Joseph’s 4-fer; headlined a crushing win for the West Indies who ran roughshod over New Zealand last night when the first of three Day/ Night ODI bowled off at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Backed by a decent afternoon crowd, the Caribbean boys were clinical in their bowling approach led by fast-bowler Alzarri Joseph who snared 4-41, which was heavily reinforced by a new-look three-headed spin monster.

Vitel Lawes celebrates one of his wickets (AFP/Getty Images)

Debutant, left-arm wrist spinner Vitel Lawes who cut his teeth with some exceptional spells for the West Indies U-19 team before and during the World Cup, had a phenomenal first big senior match, bagging impressive figures of 3-54 while finishing his full quota of 10 overs.

Left-arm spinners, Guyanese star Gudakesh Motie (2-51), kept the Kiwi batters on their toes by mixing his deliveries up nicely throughout his spell, tactics also used by veteran Khary Pierre (1-39) who kept the pressure off his mates.

Looking sharp from the first delivery, New Zealand would have definitely wanted a 300-plus score and could have easily gotten had a few of their scorers managed to press onwards before they were respectively dismissed; leaving the visitors to settle for a still strong total of 267 all after a defiant 13th ODI half-century from Daryl Mitchell.

Chasing a tricky target under lights, West Indies remained cool after the century stand between Hope and Carty which saw them home.

Keacy Carty on the pull (AFP/Getty Images)

Hope finished with 87* not out, his best score in Guyana while Carty missed a ton by a handful of runs as he led the innings with a composed 95 (10×4 2×6).

Opener Ackeem Auguste (38) and Guyanese pinch-hitter Sherfane Rutherford (22*), who ended the game, pushed the Windies to 268-3 in 48.5 overs as the Kiwis toiled with the ball.

New Zealand had a fantastic start batting first, thanks to openers Henry Nicholls (27) and Will Young (49), who looked good but failed to convert their starts.

The pair added 80 for the first wicket before Lawes broke the partnership to claim his first senior scalp in international cricket when he removed Nicholls.

The Kiwis kept their cool and found hope in a resolute Mitchell, who led the innings with a classy 73-ball 65 which was decorated with 7 fours and 2 sixes.

Mitchell shared two crucial partnerships during his half-century knock, adding 44 for the 4th wicket with Tom Latham (25) before sharing New Zealand’s best partnership , a 5th wicket stand of 65 alongside Michael Bracewell (29), who hit three fours before departing.

Only Mark Chapman (27), who had looked to set the tone after the dismissal of Nicholls by spanking two fours and a six and skipper Mitch Santner (21) who hit one six, got out of the blocks before their innings subsequently ended with a solitary ball remaining.

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