Jacob Duffy delivered a match-winning performance as New Zealand crushed the West Indies by 323 runs in the third Test on Monday, sealing a dominant 2–0 series victory. Bowling on a deteriorating fifth-day pitch, Duffy claimed 5 for 42 to bowl the visitors out for just 138.
The haul capped off a remarkable series for Duffy, who finished with 23 wickets at an average of 15.4, including three five-wicket hauls. In the process, he surpassed Sir Richard Hadlee’s long-standing New Zealand record of 80 wickets in a calendar year. Named Player of the Series, Duffy shouldered a heavy workload, sending down more than 154 overs across the three Tests.
“I saw that list at lunchtime and there were some cool names on there. To be on any list alongside those names is special,” Duffy said after the match.
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The series unfolded amid depleted pace attacks on both sides. West Indies were without Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph, while New Zealand lost several frontline quicks — Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, Kyle Jamieson, Nathan Smith and Blair Tickner — forcing Duffy to emerge as the leader of the attack.
The third Test proved a statistical goldmine. In New Zealand’s first innings, Devon Conway smashed 227 and Tom Latham 137, combining for a mammoth 323-run opening partnership as the hosts declared on 575 for 8. After dismissing West Indies for 420, Conway and Latham again set the tone in the second innings, adding 192 runs before declarations at 306 for 2, leaving the visitors a daunting target of 462.
Conway etched his name into the record books by becoming the first New Zealander — and only the 10th player in Test history — to score a double-century and a century in the same match. He and Latham also became the first opening pair to score centuries in both innings of a Test. Together, they amassed 515 runs across the match, the highest ever by an opening partnership. Latham also mirrored his father Rod’s feat by featuring in century-plus opening stands in both innings of a Test.
“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” Conway said. “It will take time to process what happened in this match, but I’m really glad we got the win.”
New Zealand faced criticism for delaying their declarations on a Bay Oval pitch that remained docile for the first three days. However, by Day 4 cracks had emerged, and uneven bounce on the final day played into the hands of the bowlers.
West Indies openers Brandon King and John Campbell resisted late on Day 4, seeing off 16 overs and adding 43 runs. They continued to frustrate New Zealand for the first hour on Monday, with King racing to a half-century off 63 balls.
The resistance ended abruptly. Both openers fell within five balls — King for 67 and Campbell for a gritty 16 off 105 deliveries — triggering a collapse that saw five wickets tumble before lunch. Duffy was at the heart of the damage, claiming three wickets with sharply lifting deliveries.
West Indies were eventually bowled out in 46.2 overs, with Duffy finishing with 5 for 38 in the second innings. New Zealand then chased down the modest target with ease to complete a commanding victory and underline their dominance throughout the series.
