NZ vs WI, 2nd Test: New Zealand beats West Indies by nine wickets to take a 1-0 lead in series
Jacob Duffy took five for 38 as New Zealand’s makeshift bowling attack skittled West Indies for 128 on the third day of the second Test at Basin Reserve on Friday, setting up a nine-wicket victory for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Missing several frontline seamers and without Blair Tickner, who dislocated his shoulder fielding on day one, the Black Caps still ripped through the West Indies line-up to give its batters a modest victory target of 56 runs.
Devon Conway, who was unbeaten on 28, and Kane Williamson, who was 16 not out, got the home side across the line before Tea at the cost of one wicket to ensure New Zealand cannot lose the series.
It was Duffy’s second consecutive five-wicket haul in the series, and he was ably assisted by fellow seamer Michael Rae, who took three for 45 for a six-wicket match haul on his Test debut.
West Indies had fashioned a great escape to get away with a draw in the first Test in Christchurch last week and, trailing by 73 runs after the first innings, needed another Herculean effort to stay alive in the New Zealand capital.
It never materialised, with Kavem Hodge its highest scorer on 35 and only two of his teammates able to get past the 20-run mark.
Resuming on 32 for two, West Indies batted solidly for the first half an hour before calamity struck when Hodge ran out Brandon King for 22, and Rae removed Shai Hope — caught and bowled for five — in the same over.
With Duffy, who was playing his third Test, to the fore, the wickets continued to fall at regular intervals until the last man, Ojay Shields, had a wild swing at a delivery from the seamer that sent it high to Rae at fine leg for a comfortable catch.
The third Test starts at Bay Oval next Thursday.
Published on Dec 12, 2025
