Jacob Duffy Shines in New Zealand's Victory Over West Indies
Duffy's Stellar Performance Steals the Spotlight
Following the recent Test match between New Zealand and West Indies, Jacob Duffy has become a hot topic of discussion, especially after receiving accolades from former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. On the fifth day of the match, Duffy's exceptional bowling turned the tide, leading New Zealand to a 2-0 series victory.
In this Test held in Mount Maunganui, West Indies faced an almost insurmountable target of 462 runs. However, they were bowled out for just 138 runs. Duffy's impressive figures of 5 wickets for only 42 runs dismantled the Caribbean batting lineup. Notably, this marked Duffy's third five-wicket haul in the series.
With this performance, Duffy also set a significant record by surpassing the legendary New Zealand bowler Richard Hadlee for the most wickets in a calendar year. As of now, Duffy has claimed 81 international wickets in 2025, while Hadlee had a total of 80. Throughout the series, Duffy took 23 wickets, marking a strong start for New Zealand in the World Test Championship.
After the match, Ravichandran Ashwin took to social media to praise Duffy, stating that 2025 is shaping up to be the best year of his career. He highlighted Duffy's impressive averages, strike rates, and his performance as the Player of the Series. Ashwin also noted that Duffy currently ranks as the number one T20 international bowler and has taken over 50 wickets in T20 matches this year. According to Ashwin, at 31, Duffy is at the peak of his career, and his acquisition by RCB at a base price could prove to be a fantastic deal.
On the fifth day, the match seemed to be heading towards a draw in the morning, but Duffy's aggressive bowling with the new ball changed everything. He dismissed West Indies' top scorer Brandon King and quickly followed up by taking out Ethanaz, Justin Greaves, and captain Roston Chase for minimal runs. Duffy claimed the final wicket as well, securing a commanding 323-run victory for New Zealand.