West Indies vs New Zealand: 2nd ODI Preview – Kiwis Eye Series Clinch

Napier, November 19, 2025 – New Zealand stand on the cusp of a series-sealing victory when they host West Indies for the second ODI at McLean Park, riding high after a tense seven-run triumph in the opener at Hagley Oval. Daryl Mitchell’s blistering 102 and Kyle Jamieson’s 3 for 41 handed the Black Caps a narrow edge, but his groin injury – ruling him out of the entire ODI leg – tests their depth. Shai Hope’s West Indies, stung by a batting collapse despite Jayden Seales’ fiery 3 for 41, must summon a complete performance to level the three-match rubber and salvage pride ahead of the T20Is.

This bilateral series, part of West Indies’ packed white-ball tour Down Under, doubles as crucial preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup cycles. The decider, if needed, shifts to Hamilton on November 22. Start time is 3:00 PM local (12:30 AM GMT / 6:00 AM IST), under partly cloudy skies with temperatures around 18°C – conditions favoring seamers early before the batters take over on Napier’s true pitch, which has yielded 280+ totals in recent ODIs.

Form Guide: Momentum vs Resilience New Zealand’s clinical bowling in Christchurch – Jamieson, Jacob Duffy (2/36), and Mitchell Santner (2/39) strangling the Windies to 249 chasing 256 – masked a top-order wobble where Devon Conway (49) and Rachin Ravindra (42) fell short of anchors. Mitchell’s absence is a gut punch, but their home record (unbeaten in last five ODIs) and depth in spin (Santner, Michael Bracewell) keep them favorites.

West Indies, meanwhile, showed fight with Seales’ swing dismantling the Kiwi tail, but their middle order – Rutherford’s gritty 55 the lone bright spot – imploded under pressure. A 1-2 series loss would extend their winless streak in New Zealand ODIs to eight since 2014.

Head-to-Head:

In 108 ODIs, New Zealand lead 53-52, but West Indies hold a slight 3-2 edge in the last five.

Recent thrillers – including NZ’s 2023 World Cup semi-final upset – suggest another nail-biter, with the average score in these clashes hovering at 250.

Squads and Probable XIs: Injury Hits and Tactical Tweaks

New Zealand Squad:

Tom Latham (c & wk), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Michael Bracewell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson. (Reserves: Mark Chapman, Zak Foulkes, Ben Sears.)

Probable XI:

Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham (c & wk), Henry Nicholls, Michael Bracewell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson.
Impact Options: Mark Chapman (middle-order firepower), Ben Sears (pace backup).
Key Men: Conway’s near-miss (49 in opener) screams conversion; Jamieson’s bounce could exploit WI’s shaky top.

West Indies Squad:

Shai Hope (c & wk), John Campbell, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Shamar Springer, Jayden Seales. (Reserves: Shimron Hetmyer, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph.)

Probable XI:

John Campbell, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope (c & wk), Keacy Carty, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Shamar Springer, Jayden Seales.

Impact Options: Gudakesh Motie (left-arm spin variety), Alzarri Joseph (if fit, for raw pace).
Key Men:

Seales’ rhythm (3/41 last time) must continue; Rutherford needs partners to build innings.

Pitch and Conditions: Seamer’s Delight Turning Batter-FriendlyMcLean Park’s grassy surface offers zip for pacers like Jamieson and Seales in the first 15 overs, with swing under lights amplifying the new ball. As the day progresses, it flattens for strokeplay – expect 260-280 par scores. Dew could aid chases, so toss winners might field first. Wind gusts (up to 20 km/h) may sway swing bowling, favoring left-armers like Ferguson and Springer.

What to Watch: Battles and Narratives

• Conway’s Anchor Role: One run shy of 50 last outing – can he finally cash in and set a platform sans Mitchell?
• Seales vs Kiwi Top Order: The young gun’s probing lines troubled Ravindra and co.; another haul could tilt the game.
• WI Middle-Order Revival: Athanaze (recent Test centurion) and Carty must stem collapses – Rutherford can’t carry alone.
• Spin Showdown: Santner (243 runs @ 60.75 vs WI) vs Chase – who controls the middle overs on a gripping track?
• Series Stakes: NZ victory seals a 2-0 lead; WI need a statement win to build T20I momentum.

New Zealand enter as 1.40 favorites, buoyed by home soil and Mitchell’s blueprint, but West Indies’ seam attack – Seales, Forde (returning post-injury), and Springer – packs punch if they bat deep. Expect fireworks in Napier, where upsets brew (recall WI’s 2018 heist). Tune in via Sky Sports (NZ), Sony Sports (India), or ESPNcricinfo for live updates – a series-leveller could ignite the decider.