New Zealand Clinches Series Against West Indies with Dominant 323-Run Victory

New Zealand's Impressive Win

Thanks to Jacob Duffy's exceptional bowling, New Zealand secured a commanding 323-run victory over the West Indies in the third Test, thereby clinching the series 2-0.

Duffy was outstanding in the second innings, taking five wickets and finishing the match with a total of nine wickets for 128 runs, marking his best performance in Test cricket. The West Indies faced an enormous target of 462 runs but collapsed for just 138 runs. In the second innings, Duffy claimed 5 wickets for 42 runs, while Ajaz Patel also shone with figures of 3/23 in the innings and 6/136 overall.

West Indies' Struggle

On the final day, the West Indies aimed to stall the game by starting their batting cautiously. Brandon King and John Campbell showed patience in the first session, navigating the uneven pitch effectively and giving their team a solid start. King appeared more aggressive, completing his half-century with some exquisite cover drives. By the time drinks were taken, the West Indies had reached 74 runs without losing a wicket.

Turning Point in the Match

However, New Zealand's disciplined bowling soon paid off. Jacob Duffy broke the partnership by dismissing King with a short ball, triggering a collapse in the West Indies' batting lineup. Duffy and Patel dismantled the middle order, and from a promising 87 runs without loss, the West Indies found themselves at 99 runs for 5 wickets at lunch.

Final Collapse

Shai Hope and Roston Chase fought back for a while, but the scoring rate was painfully slow. Chase fell to Duffy's bouncer, while Hope was given out LBW via DRS by Ajaz Patel. In the lower order, Tevin Imlach attempted to hold on, but Duffy struck again with the second new ball, wrapping up the innings.

Earlier in the match, New Zealand's openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham made history by becoming the first opening pair from their country to score centuries in both innings of a Test. Conway scored a marathon 227 runs in the first innings, while Latham contributed 137 runs. With Rachin Ravindra's unbeaten 72 runs, New Zealand declared their first innings at 575 runs.

West Indies' Performance

In the West Indies' first innings, Kaveem Hodge scored an unbeaten 123 runs, but the team could only reach 420 runs. In their second innings, New Zealand again displayed aggressive batting, declaring at 306/2 and setting a daunting target that the West Indies failed to chase down.

With this victory, New Zealand has demonstrated their strength in home conditions, while the West Indies' tour has been disappointing.