West Indies will host New Zealand in the first ODI of the five-match series at Providence Stadium in Guyana on Saturday, July 11. Both teams will look to build momentum in the five-match ODI series with a winning start.
Shai Hope will lead the hosts, while Mitchell Santner captains the New Zealand side. The West Indies will rely on home conditions and a pace attack, whereas New Zealand will look to continue their recent dominance against the Caribbean side.
West Indies vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Match Details
Match: West Indies vs New Zealand, 1st ODI
Series: New Zealand tour of West Indies, 2026
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Time: 2:30 PM Local Time (12:00 AM IST)
Venue: Providence Stadium, Guyana
Live Streaming: Disney+ (Caribbean), FanCode (India)
Live Telecast: ESPN Caribbean
West Indies vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Pitch and Weather Report
The Providence Stadium pitch usually offers a balanced contest between bat and ball. The average first-innings score in ODIs at the venue is 216, and spinners are expected to play a bigger role as the pitch slows during the middle overs.
Fast bowlers should get some movement with the new ball, especially early in the innings. As the match progresses, the surface is likely to become slower, bringing both pace variations and spin into play. Teams may prefer chasing because of the expected evening conditions.
The weather forecast is mostly favorable, with only a slight chance of rain. Temperatures are expected to stay around 26°C during the match. High humidity is likely to produce heavy dew in the second innings.
West Indies vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Head-to-Head Record
West Indies and New Zealand have shared a closely fought rivalry in ODI cricket over the years. The two teams have faced each other 71 times, with New Zealand holding a slight edge.
The Black Caps have won 33 ODIs, while the West Indies have registered 31 victories. Seven matches ended without a result. New Zealand have dominated the recent contests. They have won each of the last five ODIs against West Indies, including a 3-0 series sweep during the 2025 tour of New Zealand.
West Indies vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Predicted Playing XI
West Indies: John Campbell, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope (c & wk), Keacy Carty, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph
New Zealand: Tom Latham (wk), Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Ben Lister, Matthew Fisher/Kristian Clarke
West Indies vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Toss Prediction
Winning the toss could play an important role in the opening ODI. The expected evening dew is likely to make batting easier in the second innings. Both captains are expected to bowl first if they win the toss. Chasing has been the preferred option in day-night matches at Providence.
West Indies vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Score Prediction
If West Indies bat first: 230-245
If New Zealand bat first: 240-255
West Indies vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Key Players to Watch
West Indies
Shai Hope: The captain remains the backbone of the batting unit. His ability to rotate strike and build long innings will be crucial on a pitch expected to assist spin.
Gudakesh Motie: The left-arm spinner knows the Providence conditions well. He can control the middle overs and pick up key wickets if the surface offers turn.
Shamar Joseph: The fast bowler will look to use his pace and bounce to trouble New Zealand's top order with the new ball.
New Zealand
Daryl Mitchell: Mitchell carries the responsibility of leading New Zealand's batting. He has an excellent record against spin and can play both attacking and anchoring roles.
Mitchell Santner: The New Zealand captain will be central to his team's plans. His accurate left-arm spin could prove decisive during the middle overs.
Nathan Smith: The bowling all-rounder adds balance to the side. Apart from bowling disciplined spells, he can also score valuable runs in the lower order.
West Indies vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Best Batsman Prediction
West Indies: Shai Hope
Hope is West Indies' most reliable ODI batter. His calm approach and ability to handle spin make him the strongest candidate to finish as the hosts' highest run-scorer.
New Zealand: Daryl Mitchell
Mitchell will shoulder extra responsibility in an inexperienced batting lineup. His ability to build an innings and accelerate when needed makes him New Zealand's best batting option.
West Indies vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Best Bowler Prediction
West Indies: Gudakesh Motie
Motie has enjoyed success in Guyana and could make full use of the slow surface. His variations and control make him the leading wicket-taking candidate for the hosts.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner
Santner's experience and accuracy make him New Zealand's biggest bowling threat. He is expected to keep the scoring rate under control while picking up wickets during the middle overs.
West Indies vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Winning Probability
New Zealand: 55%
West Indies: 45%
West Indies vs New Zealand 1st ODI Match Prediction: Who Will Win?
New Zealand will enter the opening ODI as slight favourites. Mitchell Santner's side has won the last five ODIs against the Caribbean team. West Indies, however, have the advantage of playing at home and possess match-winners like Shai Hope, Shamar Joseph, Alzarri Joseph, and Gudakesh Motie.
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