New Zealand secured a commanding 323-run victory against the West Indies in the third test at Mount Maunganui, concluding the three-match series with a 2-0 triumph. The decisive win came after the hosts bowled out the visitors for a mere 138 runs on a challenging fifth-day pitch that showed significant deterioration.
Jacob Duffy emerged as the series hero, claiming 5-42 in the final innings and surpassing Richard Hadlee’s longstanding New Zealand record of 80 wickets in a calendar year. The pace bowler finished the series with 23 wickets at an impressive average of 15.4, including three five-wicket hauls. His remarkable consistency and endurance saw him bowl over 154 overs throughout the three tests, earning him the Player of the Series honor.
The match witnessed extraordinary batting performances from New Zealand’s openers. Devon Conway scored 227 and 100 across both innings, while Tom Latham contributed 137 and 101, marking the first instance in test history where both openers scored centuries in each innings of a match. Their partnership totaled 515 runs, setting a new record for opening pairs. Conway also became the tenth test player and first New Zealander to achieve both a double-century and century in the same match.
Both teams competed with significantly depleted pace attacks throughout the series. The West Indies missed Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph, while New Zealand overcame injuries to Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, Kyle Jamieson, Nathan Smith, and Blair Tickner.
The final day’s play began with West Indies openers Brandon King (67) and John Campbell (16) showing resilience, but their dismissals within five balls triggered a collapse that saw five wickets fall before lunch. Duffy’s aggressive bowling proved particularly effective on the deteriorating pitch, with several deliveries lifting uncomfortably and creating challenges for the batsmen.
Despite the loss, the West Indies demonstrated competitive spirit throughout the series, notably drawing the first test after batting 163.3 overs to reach 457-6 in pursuit of 531 runs—the highest fourth-innings score since tests were limited to five days.