Daryl Mitchell, much like his fellow New Zealand teammates, isn’t exactly known for flashy antics on the field. However, after grinding out a century at Hagley Oval during the first ODI against the West Indies, he couldn’t help but let out a triumphant roar. This marked Mitchell’s seventh ODI century, a solid 119 on a tricky, two-paced pitch, which helped New Zealand set a target of 269. They managed to defend that total, winning by just seven runs and taking an early lead in the series. The West Indies got off to a strong start after choosing to bowl first, swapping out three spinners for seamers. Matthew Forde made an early impact, almost pulling off a hat-trick in the seventh over by dismissing Rachin Ravindra and Will Young cheaply. With New Zealand at 24 for 2, they were facing a tough challenge on a difficult pitch. But Mitchell responded brilliantly, using his footwork to counter the seamers and pick up the pace. Devon Conway chipped in with a gritty but vital 49 off 58 balls, helping the hosts reach 91 for 2 before the innings hit a snag under the pressure from Roston Chase, who bowled with precision and effective drift. Chase ended with just one wicket but created several opportunities, including two dropped catches by New Zealand, which allowed Michael Bracewell to contribute 35 off 52. Also Read | IPL 2026: Why Arjun Tendulkar May Shine at LSG After MI Exit When Mitchell reached 79, he had a brief struggle with a left-leg issue that hampered his running. Still, he kept clearing the boundaries, eventually bringing up his century with 12 fours and two sixes. His innings, following four fifties in his last seven ODIs, proved to be crucial. Mitchell’s Century & Jamieson’s Bowling Edge New Zealand Past West Indies The West Indies’ chase never really got back on track after a sluggish start. Keacy Carty’s 20 off 67 underscored their difficulties against the seam, swing, and bounce, leaving them at 59 after 19 overs. Rutherford’s quickfire 55 off 61 balls offered a glimmer of hope, bolstered by some late hitting from Justin Greaves and Romario Shepherd. Despite a strong finish, they needed 20 runs off the last over and fell just short. Kyle Jamieson was instrumental for New Zealand, wrapping up with figures of 3 for 52. Mitchell’s century under pressure, combined with the disciplined bowling from Jamieson and Duffy, made all the difference in this tightly contested match.