A devastating spell of fast bowling from Jacob Duffy, who claimed a career-best match haul of nine for 128, powered New Zealand to a crushing 323-run victory over the West Indies in the third Test here on Monday, clinching the series 2-0.
Set an improbable 462 for victory, the West Indies’ resistance, which had been stoic for the first session on the final day, evaporated in a spectacular collapse from 87 for one, to 138 all out in the final session.
The tourists had begun the day with disciplined intent. Openers Brandon King and John Campbell survived the first hour, with King in particular looking assured on his way to a fluent 67. The pair took the score to 87 without loss, suggesting a long day of toil for the hosts.
The breakthrough, however, triggered a catastrophic chain reaction. Duffy, extracting an awkward bounce, forced King to glove to gully.
From there, the innings unravelled at dizzying speed. Spinner Ajaz Patel, claiming his best home figures (3-23 and 6-136), removed Campbell (16) and Kavem Hodge (0) in quick succession, the latter to a spectacular reflex catch by Rachin Ravindra at short leg.
Duffy then took centre stage, running through the middle order with a masterclass in hostile seam bowling. Alick Athanaze (2) and Justin Greaves (0) fell to edges behind, and when Duffy removed captain Roston Chase for five with a sharp bouncer after lunch, the West Indies had slumped to 104-6.
The resistance of Shai Hope, who absorbed 78 balls for just three runs, was ended by Patel via DRS, and the tail offered only fleeting defiance.
Duffy returned with the new ball to clean bowl Jayden Sealed and complete his five-wicket haul (5-42), sealing the match and the series.
The victory was built on a mammoth first-innings total of 575 for eight declared, founded on a historic opening stand. Devon Conway (227) and Tom Latham (137) became the first-ever opening pair to score centuries in both innings of a Test, a record-breaking platform that ultimately gave New Zealand’s bowlers an insurmountable advantage to attack with.
For the West Indies, a morning of promise dissolved into familiar fragility, their final nine wickets adding just 51 runs to hand New Zealand a comprehensive and commanding series win.
New Zealand jumped to second place, behind Australia, in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings following their victory.
“It was a clinical performance, really,” New Zealand captain Tom Latham said at the presentation ceremony.
“Take away maybe 20-odd overs with the ball in that first innings and I thought throughout the rest of the game, we were exactly where we wanted to be.
“And obviously being on the right side is really pleasing.”
It was a memorable match for the New Zealand captain, who followed his 137 in the first innings with 101 in the second.
His opening partner Devon Conway’s scores of 227 and 100 earned him the player-of-the-match award.
It was the first time in a test match that a team’s opening batters each hit centuries in both innings.
Duffy walked away with the player-of-the-series award for his tally of 23 wickets.
West Indies showed some resistance in the first innings when Kavem Hodge’s hundred powered them to a respectable 420.
“It has been a tough series. We played good in patches but not through long phases and it showed in the results,” touring captain Roston Chase said.
“I think we need to firstly know when those moments are up for grabs, and then obviously, to nail those moments, to win those key moments in the game. I just think that’s something that we have to learn to do.”
(CMC/Reuters)
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