New Zealand beats West Indies by nine runs in tense finish, leads series 2-1
Nelson (AP): Kyle Jamieson bowled a superb final over to seal a nine-run win for New Zealand over the West Indies here on Sunday in the third Twenty20 International.
New Zealand leads the three-match series 2-1 and Jamieson also bowled the last over in the second match on Thursday which New Zealand won by three runs.
The West Indies won the first match by seven runs and all three matches have been decided in the final over.
New Zealand managed only 177-9 batting first but seemed headed for a comfortable win when the West Indies slumped to 88-8 in the 13th over at Saxton Oval.
Romario Shepherd scored 49 from 34 balls and Shamar Springer 39 from 20 as the West Indies rallied to reach the last over needing 14 runs to win with one wicket in hand and Shepherd and Akeal Hosein at the crease.
The onus again fell on the tall fast bowler Jamieson to bowl the final over and he held his nerve, conceding only two runs from the first four balls before dismissing Shepherd with the fifth ball to end the match.
Once again Sunday, the West Indies' tail came to the rescue of its brittle top order. The tourists lost two wickets in the second over of their innings bowled by Jacob Duffy, were 47-2 at the end of the first power play, then lost six wickets for 35 runs through the middle overs.
Spinner Ish Sodhi took 3-34 and was player of the match.
"If you're taking it to the last over, then that means you're in the contest," West Indies captain Shai Hope said.
"It's just unfortunate we didn't come out on the winning side in the last two."
Earlier, Devon Conway set up the New Zealand innings with 56 from 34 balls. New Zealand also suffered a late batting slump, losing six wickets for 31 in the last five overs.
Superb fielding by the West Indies produced three run outs and Jason Holder and Matt Forde bowled excellent spells. Forde took 2-20 and Holder 2-31 to contain New Zealand to a moderate total.
Conway ends lean spell
Conway ovecame recent form struggles to post his first half century in seven innings. He hit a six in the first over, bowled by the spinner Akeal Hosein and set the steady pace of the first half of the New Zealand innings.
Tim Robinson (23) and Rachin Ravindra (26) both made starts but couldn't go on.
New Zealand was 47-1 at the end of the six over power play and well-placed at 97-1 after 10 overs.
Conway reached his half century from 32 balls with another six off Hosein before falling in the 13th, the first of a trio of run outs.
Alick Athenaze pulled off a superb piece of fielding at deep midwicket and beat Conway with a direct hit at the non-striker's end.
Pressure again fell on Daryl Mitchell to give New Zealand's innings momentum in the later overs. He hit 41 from 24 balls with two fours and three sixes but even he couldn't fully get on top of the bowling, nor find a partner to see the innings out.
Michael Bracewell made 11 before being run out in another slick fielding effort by Rovman Powell.
Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Mitch Hay and Kyle Jamieson all were out in single figures.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
