Match overview
New Zealand beat West Indies by 3 runs in a T20I at Eden Park, Auckland on 6 November 2025. Batting first after West Indies chose to field, New Zealand posted 207/5 across their 20 overs. West Indies gave themselves a chance with a remarkable death-overs assault, scoring 87 runs off the final phase for just 2 wickets, but they closed on 204/8, falling three short of their target. MS Chapman was named Player of the Match for his first-innings contribution. The result extends New Zealand's advantage in the overall T20I series between these sides.
The match followed a familiar Eden Park pattern: New Zealand got off to a clean powerplay, losing no wickets while scoring 47 runs, then built steadily through the middle overs. The death overs added a further 67 runs for 2 wickets, giving them a total that proved just sufficient. West Indies' reply was shakier up front; 36 runs for 1 wicket in the powerplay was below the venue's average, and losing 5 wickets between overs 7 and 16 left them too much to do. The late flourish was impressive but came up short.
Venue and conditions
Eden Park has hosted 112 T20 matches, making it one of the better-documented domestic T20 venues in the southern hemisphere. The average first-innings score is 194 and the average second-innings score is 174, a gap of 20 runs that reflects the challenges of chasing under lights in Auckland. The powerplay typically yields around 46 runs, so New Zealand's 47 without loss was marginally above par and effectively set the tone for the innings.
The ground's toss data is notable: 72 per cent of captains choose to field at Eden Park. The chase success rate sits at 55 per cent, which means fielding first is marginally the preferred option but by no means a guarantee. West Indies' decision to chase was reasonable on paper; the execution, particularly in the powerplay and middle phases, is what cost them. The death-overs average at this ground is 34 runs, which makes West Indies' 87 in that phase all the more striking, even in a losing effort.
How to watch
New Zealand home T20I series are available in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, with live streaming via Sky Go and NOW TV for subscribers. Given the time difference between the UK and New Zealand, matches at Eden Park kick off late at night in Britain; the 6 November fixture would have started at approximately 07:00 GMT, meaning early-morning viewing for the most dedicated UK fans. Check the Sky Sports schedule for broadcast confirmation on any further fixtures in this series.
Recent form
New Zealand came into this fixture in mixed T20I form. They had lost their previous meeting against West Indies in 2025 but backed that up with three consecutive wins over England, with one no-result also against England. Overall, the squad had shown they could score runs in conditions across New Zealand's domestic grounds.
West Indies arrived in strong form. They had won their previous four completed T20I fixtures, including the win over New Zealand that immediately preceded this match, and a three-match clean sweep against Bangladesh. Their only recent T20I defeat came against Bangladesh earlier in the year. The form suggested a competitive match, and the 3-run margin confirmed it.
