After a spirited batting effort in the second innings to draw the first Test, West Indies came up with a completely contrasting performance at Basin Reserve, going down by nine wickets on the third day of the second Test. Jacob Duffy starred for New Zealand with his second fifer in Tests as West Indies were bundled out for 128. Needing only 56 to win, the hosts got the job done in 10 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
West Indies, who began the day at 32/2, appeared to be making steady progress as Brandon King and Kavem Hodge struck a few boundaries to help their side reach 50. But a mix-up with his partner resulted in the run out of King, and in the same over Shai Hope fell caught and bowled to Michael Rae. Hodge continued to find the boundaries but damage was being done at the other end as Duffy had Roston Chase nicking to the ‘keeper. West Indies entered the lead when they moved to 74 for 5. But it became 88 for 6 as Zakary Foulkes had Hodge dismissed attempting a pull.
Justin Greaves and Tevin Imlach led West Indies to Lunch without further damage but the former fell to Duffy early in the second session. Duffy struck again in his next over to have Imlach caught at second slip. West Indies’ innings ended quickly as Rae had Jayden Seales caught at slip, followed by Ojay Shields getting a top edge off a short ball that gave Duffy his second fifer of the series.
Devon Conway got New Zealand going in the small chase with a couple of fours off Seales in the second over while Tom Latham, after a watchful start, struck a boundary off Kemar Roach. The New Zealand captain, however, edged an Anderson Phillip to third slip after closing the face of his bat too soon. Conway and Kane Williamson then decided to finish it off quickly. Conway’s three fours in Shields’ over was followed by three boundaries for Williamson in Phillip’s over as New Zealand got over the line in the 10th over.
The platform for New Zealand’s comfortable win was set up early in the game by Blair Tickner, who bagged a four-wicket haul in the first innings to bowl West Indies out for 205, although he was ruled out for the remainder of the Test after dislocating his left shoulder trying to save a boundary. Conway and Mitchell Hay then struck 60s to help the hosts pick up a handy 73-run lead, which was followed by a clinical bowling performance in the second essay that helped New Zealand complete a dominant performance.
Brief scores: West Indies 205 (Shai Hope 47; Blair Tickner 4-32, Michael Rae 3-66) & 128 (Kavem Hodge 35; Jacob Duffy 5-38, Michael Rae 3-45) lost to New Zealand 278 (Mitchell Ray 61, Devon Conway 60; Anderson Phillip 3-70) & 57/1 (Devon Conway 28*, Kane Williamson 16*) by 9 wickets.
