New Zealand wrapped up a dominant win over the West Indies as seamer Matt Duffy’s five-wicket haul helped bowl out the tourists for 138. The innings ended just four overs after tea following a dramatic collapse.
The hosts had set a massive target of 462. Devon Conway scored 227 and 100 in two innings, while captain Tom Latham made 137 and 101. The opening pair became the first in first-class cricket history to score twin centuries in the same match.
Duffy’s five-wicket performance was backed by Ajaz Patel, who claimed 3-23. West Indies opener Brandon King top-scored with 67, but the rest of the batting lineup crumbled under pressure.
West Indies started the day at 43-0, but collapsed from 87-0 to 112-8 around lunch. King dominated early with a flurry of cuts and drives, scoring 53 of the team’s first 59 runs. Duffy broke the opening stand with King gloving a rising delivery to Glenn Phillips at gully.
Patel struck immediately after, removing John Campbell for 16 and first-innings centurion Kavem Hodge for a duck. Duffy then dismissed Alick Athanaze for 2 and Justin Greaves for nought in successive overs, leaving West Indies in disarray.
Duffy’s five-wicket haul was capped when he trapped Roston Chase, who scored just 42 runs at an average of seven in the series. Chase admitted, “I had a tough series, very below par for my standards… I let myself and the team down.”
Shai Hope was dismissed via a controversial lbw review, while Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra picked up crucial wickets to support the bowlers. Jayden Seales fell to Duffy, completing a clinical bowling performance.
New Zealand captain Latham praised the team’s effort, saying, “Winning the toss, batting first, getting close to 600, and then executing with the ball was the perfect blueprint.”
With this victory, New Zealand secured the series 1-0 after a drawn first Test in Christchurch, demonstrating dominance with both bat and ball.
In other news read more about: Pakistan Secure Five-Wicket Win Over Zimbabwe in Tri-Nation Series Opener
