New Zealand completed a 2-0 series victory over the West Indies on Monday, dismantling the visitors by 323 runs in the third Test at Mount Maunganui. Chasing a massive target of 462, the West Indies began the final day with promise, reaching 87 without loss before a collapse saw them bundled out for just 138.
The victory improved the Black Caps' standing in the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, propelling them past India and South Africa into second place.
The collapse was swift and brutal, with the tourists losing all 10 wickets for just 51 runs after the drinks break. On a cracked surface offering uneven bounce, pacer Jacob Duffy and spinner Ajaz Patel proved unplayable. Opener Brandon King top-scored with a brisk 67, but once he gloved a rising delivery from Duffy to gully, the resistance crumbled.
Patel, generating sharp turn, trapped a defensive Shai Hope lbw for a labored 3 off 78 balls, while Duffy ran through the middle order. West Indies captain Roston Chase capped a miserable series, scoring just 42 runs at an average of seven, by edging to slip, as New Zealand’s tactical adjustments and aggressive field placements suffocated the batters.
Jacob Duffy was the standout performer, claiming 5 for 42 to finish with 23 wickets in the series. In doing so, the 31-year-old etched his name into the history books by breaking Sir Richard Hadlee’s 50-year-old record for the most wickets by a New Zealander in a calendar year across all formats.
Duffy ended the year with 81 wickets, surpassing Hadlee’s mark of 79 set in 1985. "I saw that list at lunchtime in the lunchroom, and there are some cool names on there," Duffy said after being named Player of the Match. "To be up there, on any kind of list, with those sorts of names is pretty special. It's been a cool year."
The foundation for the victory was laid by a historic batting display from openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham. The duo became the first opening pair in first-class cricket history to score centuries in both innings of the same match. Conway, who scored 227 and 100, also became the first New Zealander to hit a double-century and a century in the same test.
Their combined efforts, including a 323-run stand in the first innings, allowed New Zealand to dictate terms throughout the match. "I don’t think it’s sunk in yet," Conway remarked. "It will take some time for me to get my head around what happened in this Test match, but I’m really glad we got the win."
While the team celebrated, questions loomed over the future of Kane Williamson, with speculation that this might have been his final test on home soil for some time. Williamson hinted at his absence for the upcoming tour of India in January, stating, "There's a pretty large block away from the group as well, and there'll be more conversations had."
As New Zealand looks toward a challenging away schedule, they do so with a settled top order and a bowling attack that has proven its depth despite significant injuries to frontline pacers.