As New Zealand defeated the West Indies by 323 runs in the third Test, Jacob Duffy took five wickets in the second innings, giving him his career-best match statistics of 9 for 128. This helped New Zealand win the series 2-0. Duffy concluded with 5 for 42 as West Indies, chasing an unlikely 462, were bowled out for 138. Ajaz Patel, who had gone wicketless in his three previous appearances in New Zealand, achieved his best innings and match numbers at home (3-23 & 6-136, respectively).
On the last day, West Indies started the first session with the goal of getting batting time, and they succeeded. Before finding sporadic release through the off side, the openers displayed discipline early on a surface with variable bounce. King was the most fluid of the two, pulling confidently to reach a well-paced fifty with ten boundaries and unfurling crisp cover drives against Michael Rae and Duffy. Conversely, Campbell persevered through a leg before shouting Rae off, which was overruled upon review. With no losses, West Indies have reached 74 drinks.
Soon after, New Zealand’s patience paid off in a series of swift victories, including the breakthrough. After Campbell hit a lofted four off Ajaz, the left-arm spinner quickly ended a 105-ball stay when the opener misplayed a long smash down the ground and Phillips again made a good decision at mid-on. That wicket set off a fast slide: Rachin Ravindra made a spectacular catch on the bounce after Kavem Hodge poked conservatively and floated a chance off Ajaz to short leg.
When a short ball climbed awkwardly and ripped the glove off King on 67, Duffy created the chance.
As Duffy took advantage of the available bounce and movement, the collapse picked up speed. After just 13 balls, Justin Greaves was hit by another hard-length delivery that nipped away and found the edge, while Daryl Mitchell held on low at first slip. Alick Athanaze fell driving loosely on the up, edging behind. At lunch, West Indies collapsed from a strong 87 for no loss to 99 for 5, forcing Roston Chase and Shai Hope into survival mode.
The 52-ball combination between Chase and Hope produced just six runs before the captain became Duffy’s fourth wicket, gloving it to second slip after putting himself in a bad position against a stinging bouncer. Ajaz trapped Hope in front of the ball after he stone-walled the New Zealand assault for three runs in his 78-ball stint. New Zealand then successfully used the DRS. With the next wicket, Phillips bowled Kemar Roach past the gate. West Indies entered the break at 138/8 with four overs remaining before the second new ball was due. Tevin Imlach persisted in his battle and was not out on 15 off 78 at Tea, with Anderson Phillip providing strong support from the opposite end.
Phillip was out leg-before to Ravindra in the same over after being knocked down by Phillips early in the third session. In the last session, Duffy came out with the second new ball and quickly got Jayden Sealed bowled for a duck as New Zealand won the match.
The only opening duo in a Test to score hundreds in both innings was Devon Conway and Tom Latham earlier in the match. Ravindra’s 72 not out, Conway’s 227, and Latham’s 137 helped New Zealand reach 575/8 declared in their opening innings. Hodge’s 123 not out was the only significant score in the West Indies’ strong reply. King also scored 63, and three other batsmen were dismissed in the 40s as they concluded with 420, with Duffy taking four wickets and Ajaz taking three. Then, in their second essay, New Zealand sped to 306/2 declared in 54 overs because to tonnes from Conway and Latham, setting a high bar for the West Indies that they ultimately failed to meet.
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