Big picture: West Indies look for more than a consolation win

They are currently 10th in the ICC men’s ODI team rankings and run the risk of having to play the Qualifier for the 2027 World Cup, should they not finish ninth at the very least. They need every win they can get, and have a tough assignment away to India next in the 50-over format. West Indies missed out on qualifying for the 2023 edition, and will want to avoid the indignity of missing out again, and won’t want to leave it to the Qualifier tournament to make it.

They would also want a markedly improved performance with the bat, having failed to bat out their 50 overs in all their three defeats in this series.

New Zealand, on the other hand, will be flying high on confidence having overturned a 1-0 deficit in the series to win three on the trot. Making it four in four will make them feel pretty happy with where they are in the format in which they have to play a World Cup next year.

Form guide

West Indies: LLLWL (Last five completed ODIs, most recent first)

New Zealand: WWWLL

In the spotlight

West Indies’ talismanic captain Shai Hope began the series with an unbeaten 87 that helped them win the series opener, but has recorded three single-digit scores in the matches since – all of which they ended up losing. With an average just north of 50, Hope is the rock in West Indies’ batting lineup, which can otherwise be rather mercurial. Hope will want to finish the series strong by coming back to form and arrest West Indies’ batting woes.

Mark Chapman made a crucial 80 in New Zealand’s last game after a string of low scores, and will want to build on that to strengthen his claim for a permanent spot in New Zealand’s ODI XI. He strikes at over 100, and has six fifty-plus scores – including a century – in his last 12 ODI innings, and will want to add to that number.

Team news

With Sherfane Rutherford having managed just a high-score of 22 not out in the series, West Indies may be tempted to give Shimron Hetmyer a go in the middle order. He was part of their squad for their last ODI series, against Sri Lanka, and has been a part of their squad for the final three ODIs against New Zealand, but hasn’t got a game, and with the series already decided, it might be the time for West Indies to allow Hetmyer a shot in the format for the first time since June, 2025.

West Indies XI (probable): 1 Ackeem Auguste, 2 Justin Greaves, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Shai Hope (capt, wk), 5 Amir Jangoo, 6 Sherfane Rutherford/Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Matthew Forde, 8 Gudakesh Motie, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Jayden Seales, 11 Vitel Lawes

New Zealand have the series in the bag, and could give a game to one of Ben Lister and Kristian Clarke.

New Zealand XI (probable): 1 Henry Nicholls, 2 Will Young, 3 Nick Kelly, 4 Mark Chapman, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Michael Bracewell, 7 Mitchell Santner (capt), 8 Nathan Smith, 9 Jacob Duffy, 10 Matthew Fisher/Ben Lister/Kristian Clarke, 11 Jayden Lennox

Pitch and conditions

Traditionally, Kensington Oval has been a fast bowler’s paradise, but in the last game, it was the spinners who shared ten wickets between them, five of them coming from Gudakesh Motie who almost bowled West Indies to victory in a close game. The weather is expected to stay clear.

Stats and trivia