West Indies battles New Zealand in rain-shortened 2nd ODI at Napier seeking series leveler

The West Indies battled rain delays on November 19, 2025 at McLean Park in Napier, hoping to force a series decider against New Zealand. The match was reduced to 34 overs per side after weather interrupted play multiple times. New Zealand chose to bowl first, with the Windies seeking to even the 3-match ODI series after dropping the opener by 7 runs.

Napier Battle Tests Both Squads in Rain-Hit Contest

The West Indies arrived at McLean Park desperate for an uplift. They fell 7 runs short in Christchurch‘s opening match on November 16. Daryl Mitchell‘s 119 powered New Zealand to victory in that thriller.

Persistent drizzle reduced this contest to 34-over tennis. The first powerplay would span just 7 overs with two fielders out. Only four bowlers could operate 7 overs each, with one more allowed 6 overs.

“With rain forecast, do we expect to see the winner of the toss bowl first?” – ESPNcricinfo commentary team on weather conditions.

The Black Caps made three changes. Mark Chapman replaced injured Daryl Mitchell. Nathan Smith and Blair Tickner earned starts as well. The Windies brought in left-hander Ackeem Auguste for Athanaze.

Series-Leveling Pressure Mounts on Windies Batsmen

West Indies must convert this opportunity or face series defeat by match three. The Caribbean squad struggled early in the opener, falling behind the required rate.

Powerplay batting has long troubled the Windies lineup. They didn’t lose wickets early in Christchurch, yet their slow start forced them to chase later. Momentum problems cost them dear.

Captain Shai Hope acknowledged these issues while expressing quiet confidence. His lower order pulled them close before. But today called for top-order aggression to put New Zealand under real pressure from ball one.

Toss, Team Changes, and Playing Conditions

Match Detail	Information
Venue	McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand
Date	November 19, 2025 (Day-Night)
Overs Per Side	34 overs (reduced from 50)
Toss Winner	New Zealand (chose to bowl)
West Indies XI	Campbell, Auguste, Carty, Hope (capt), Rutherford, Shepherd, Greaves, Forde, Springer, Chase, Seales
New Zealand XI	Conway, Ravindra, Young, Chapman, Latham (wk), Bracewell, Santner (capt), Smith, Jamieson, Henry, Tickner

New Zealand holds clear home advantage on these grounds. Mitchell Santner‘s team is unbeaten in recent ODI series down under. They’ll eye an unbeatable 2-0 lead.

Key Matchups and Players to Watch

• John Campbell faces crucial early overs for West Indies stability.
• Kyle Jamieson poses a new-ball threat with pace and movement.
• Matt Henry earned 4 bowlers x 7 overs allocation with early breakthroughs.
• Shai Hope captain must anchor the middle order under rain pressure.
• Roston Chase offers spin variety if game extends deep.

This contest bears all the hallmarks of a series-decider despite only match two. Rain reduced overs demand quick scoring and tactical acumen both sides possess in abundance.

Will Rain Leave West Indies Room to Recover From Series Deficit?

The weather threat looms larger for West Indies than New Zealand. Chasing teams need time to build momentum. Shortened formats compress that opportunity. The Windies must grab early wickets if New Zealand bats first.

Yet McLean Park drains quickly despite earlier storm clouds. The ground staff confirmed it ranks among New Zealand‘s fastest-draining venues. If conditions stabilize, both teams get fair runs at batting.

West Indies cannot afford another loss here. Their last chance comes in match three. Can they muster the discipline, aggression, and luck needed to level this gripping series today?

Sources

• ESPNcricinfo – Live cricket score and ball-by-ball commentary
• NZ Herald – Match updates and field reports from Napier
• NDTV Sports – Series standings and player statistics