Match: 5th T20I, West Indies tour of New Zealand
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
Time: 1:15 PM Local (5:45 AM IST / 12:15 AM GMT)
Venue: University Oval, Dunedin, New Zealand
Toss: 12:45 PM Local Time
Series Status: New Zealand lead 2-1
Series So Far
The five-match T20I series has been thrilling from start to finish. West Indies won the first match by 7 runs, but New Zealand bounced back with narrow victories in the second (by 3 runs) and third (by 9 runs) matches. The fourth game ended with no result due to rain, with West Indies on 38/1 in 6.3 overs.
New Zealand now have the chance to seal the series 3-1, while West Indies will be fighting hard to level it at 2-2.
Expected Playing XIs
New Zealand (Likely XI)
Source: Multiple cricket analysts including Khel Now, IPL Star
- Devon Conway (wk)
- Tim Robinson
- Rachin Ravindra
- Mark Chapman
- Daryl Mitchell
- Michael Bracewell
- James Neesham
- Mitchell Santner (c)
- Kyle Jamieson
- Jacob Duffy
- Ish Sodhi
Note: Devon Conway and Tim Robinson have provided solid starts throughout the series, while Mitchell Santner leads a balanced attack featuring Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, and Ish Sodhi.
West Indies (Likely XI)
Source: Multiple cricket analysts including Khel Now, Betfair
- Alick Athanaze
- Amir Jangoo
- Shai Hope (c & wk)
- Ackeem Auguste
- Sherfane Rutherford
- Rovman Powell
- Roston Chase / Jason Holder
- Romario Shepherd
- Matthew Forde
- Shamar Springer / Akeal Hosein
- Jayden Seales
Note: West Indies have shuffled their batting order during the series, with Brandon King losing his opening spot to Amir Jangoo.
Venue & Pitch Report
University Oval, Dunedin
University Oval is a cozy venue with a capacity of 3,500 that can be expanded to 6,000 with temporary stands. The ground has short boundaries, with the straight boundary measuring just 65 meters.
Pitch Conditions
The pitch at University Oval in Dunedin offers a balanced surface for both batters and bowlers. Pacers can extract movement early on, while spinners tend to come into play in the middle overs. The average first-innings score is around 179 in T20 internationals.
Recent T20 matches at the venue suggest first-innings totals typically range from 160-180 runs under normal conditions.
Key Factor: Teams batting first have won 100% of T20Is at this venue – there has been no successful chase yet!
Weather Forecast
Forecasts for November 13 indicate cool temperatures of 13-18°C with patchy rain and moderate wind of approximately 20-30 km/h, which could influence ball swing and outfield speed.
There is a 30 percent chance of light rain on Thursday during the scheduled game time. The conditions could favor swing bowlers, especially in the early overs.
Players to Watch
Batters
| Player | Team | Role | Recent Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devon Conway | New Zealand | Wicketkeeper-batter | Scored 56 runs in 3rd T20I |
| Daryl Mitchell | New Zealand | Batting allrounder | Consistent performer |
| Shai Hope | West Indies | Captain & wicketkeeper | Key player for WI |
| Rovman Powell | West Indies | Power-hitter | Provides late fireworks |
Bowlers
| Player | Team | Role | Recent Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Duffy | New Zealand | Fast bowler | Crucial breakthroughs |
| Ish Sodhi | New Zealand | Leg-spinner | Key wicket-taker |
| Matthew Forde | West Indies | Fast bowler | 4 wickets in series |
| Roston Chase | West Indies | Spinner | 5 wickets in series |
Match Prediction
Our Pick: New Zealand to win
New Zealand have gradually built momentum, showing resilience in tight chases and effective utilization of both pace and spin in the middle overs. Playing at home with the series lead gives them a clear advantage.
The Black Caps have won their last two matches and will be confident of closing out the series. The pitch history favoring teams batting first also works in their favor if they win the toss.
Expected Score: First innings 170-185
What to Expect
This series decider promises to be an exciting contest. Three of the four completed games have been decided by under 10 runs, making this one of the tightest T20I bilateral series in recent times.
Teams winning the toss may prefer bowling first to exploit early conditions and put pressure on the chasing side, though the venue’s history suggests batting first is the safer option.
With cool weather, potential rain interruptions, and a pitch that assists both batters and bowlers at different stages, this match could go down to the wire.