Mount Maunganui (New Zealand), December 22 (Udaipur Kiran) – New Zealand defeated West Indies by 323 runs in the third Test match played on Monday at Mount Maunganui, securing the series 2-0. Jacob Duffy’s lethal bowling proved decisive as he took five wickets in the second innings.
New Zealand set a massive target of 462 runs for West Indies. However, the visitors were bundled out for just 138 runs. West Indies’ batting collapsed both before and after lunch, and shortly after tea, the entire team was dismissed within four overs.
Duffy took five wickets for 42 runs, while spinner Ajaz Patel claimed three wickets for 23 runs. Brandon King scored the highest 67 runs for West Indies in the second innings.
The pitch offered uneven bounce and movement, which Duffy and Patel exploited effectively. West Indies were 87 without loss at one point but then lost eight wickets for just 25 runs.
The day began with West Indies at 43 without loss. King played aggressively, scoring 53 of the team’s first 59 runs. However, after the drinks break, New Zealand’s fielding intensity increased, turning the match in their favour.
Duffy gave New Zealand the breakthrough by catching King at the gully through Glenn Phillips when the score was 87. Soon after, Ajaz Patel dismissed John Campbell (16) and then sent back Kavem Hodge without scoring. Duffy continued to strike, removing Alec Athanaz (2), Justin Greaves (0), and captain Royston Chase (5), who struggled throughout the series, scoring only 42 runs in three Tests.
Patel got Shai Hope (3) out lbw, followed by Glenn Phillips bowling an injured Kemar Roach (4). In the final session, Rachin Ravindra dismissed Anderson Phillip, and Duffy bowled Jaden Seales to end the West Indies innings and the match.
Earlier, New Zealand’s opening batsmen provided solid starts in both innings. Devon Conway scored impressive centuries of 227 and 100, while captain Tom Latham made 137 and 101. This marked the first time in Test cricket history that an opening pair scored centuries in both innings of the same match. With their help, New Zealand posted 575 for eight in the first innings and declared at 306 for two in the second.
The series began with a drawn Test in Christchurch, followed by a New Zealand win in Wellington, and now a commanding victory in the third Test to seal the series.
(Udaipur Kiran) Dubey
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