Duffy, Ajaz tear through West Indies as New Zealand seal series 2-0

West Indies’ hopes of salvaging pride at Mount Maunganui evaporated in a stunning final-day collapse, as Jacob Duffy and Ajaz Patel ripped through the batting order to hand New Zealand a commanding 323-run victory and a 2-0 series win.

From a position of relative comfort at 87 without loss, West Indies imploded to 138 all out, losing eight wickets for just 51 runs after the morning drinks break. Duffy’s sensational 5 for 42 not only spearheaded the collapse but also saw him surpass Sir Richard Hadlee’s record for most wickets by a New Zealand bowler in a calendar year, underlining his rapid rise at the highest level.

There were lingering questions as the fifth day began. Had New Zealand declared too late? Would the pitch deteriorate enough to make the fourth innings treacherous? And was this possibly Kane Williamson’s final Test at home? All doubts dissolved swiftly once the surface revealed its true nature and West Indies’ batting unraveled.

The Bay Oval pitch, unique in New Zealand for starting benign before breaking apart dramatically, had transformed into a fractured landscape. The deterioration fascinated even the home players, with Daryl Mitchell visibly inspecting the surface in disbelief. This was precisely the stage set for Ajaz Patel, the specialist spinner drafted in for this Test, to play a decisive role.

Ajaz exploited the conditions expertly, generating sharp turn and subtle drift at slow pace. His dismissal of Shai Hope encapsulated West Indies’ confusion and New Zealand’s tactical clarity. Hope, crowded by close-in fielders and wary of defending into the trap laid around him, chose to leave a full toss, only for ball-tracking to confirm three reds after a tense review. It was hallway cricket at its most ruthless.

While Brandon King battled to a fluent half-century, resistance ended there. The scorecard told a brutal story: six consecutive single-digit scores followed, including captain Roston Chase, who finished the tour with a miserable 42 runs at an average of 7. His dismissal, fending at second slip, was another example of Duffy’s relentless accuracy and bounce.

Duffy’s dominance was not merely about aggression. His removal of Alick Athanaze showcased tactical intelligence, pinning the batter deep before slipping in the fuller delivery to induce the fatal edge. Across the series, Duffy finished with 23 wickets, more than double the tally of any other bowler, cementing his status as New Zealand’s breakout force.

Together, Duffy and Ajaz bowled nearly 70% of New Zealand’s overs in the final innings, operating in perfect sync. Ajaz’s marathon spell of 32-21-23-3 strangled any hope of recovery, while Duffy delivered the decisive blows.

Earlier in the match, New Zealand had laid an impregnable foundation. Devon Conway’s majestic 227 and Tom Latham’s authoritative 137 powered a massive first-innings total, while centuries from both in the second innings allowed New Zealand to dictate terms completely.

The victory lifts New Zealand to second place on the World Test Championship (WTC) table, but it also carries a poignant undertone. Kane Williamson, who has hinted at stepping away from upcoming tours, may already have played his final Test at home. As he departs for Christmas with family, his long-term future remains uncertain.

For now, though, the story belongs to New Zealand’s bowlers, relentless, intelligent, and ruthless, and to a team that once again proved why home conditions remain their fortress.

NZ vs WI – 3rd Test, Mount Maunganui (Scorecard)

New Zealand won by 323 runs (series 2-0)