New Zealand completed a dominant nine-wicket victory over West Indies on the third day of the second Test at Basin Reserve, sealing a 1–0 series lead after a superb bowling performance led by Jacob Duffy. The hosts chased down the modest 56-run target in just 10 overs, with Devon Conway and Kane Williamson finishing the job after an early wobble.

West Indies, who resumed the day at 32 for 2, looked steady initially as Brandon King and Kavem Hodge struck a few boundaries to push the score past 50. But a mix-up between the batters resulted in King’s run-out, and in the same over Shai Hope fell caught and bowled to Michael Rae, triggering a slide the visitors never recovered from.

Hodge continued to resist with a flurry of boundaries, but wickets kept tumbling at the other end. Duffy had Roston Chase edging behind before Zakary Foulkes dismissed Hodge for 35. West Indies slipped from 74 for 5 to 88 for 6, and the collapse accelerated after lunch when Justin Greaves and Tevin Imlach departed in quick succession. Rae and Duffy wrapped up the innings soon after, with Duffy claiming figures of 5 for 38 – his second five-wicket haul of the series.

Chasing just 56, Conway kick-started the reply with a pair of boundaries off Jayden Seales, while Tom Latham opened cautiously before edging Anderson Phillip to slip for 9. That proved the only success for West Indies, as Conway and Williamson shifted gears to finish the match swiftly. Conway struck three boundaries in a Shields over, and Williamson replied with three of his own off Phillip, sealing victory in the 10th over.

The foundation for New Zealand’s triumph was laid earlier in the Test, when Blair Tickner’s four-wicket haul bowled West Indies out for 205 in the first innings. Half-centuries from Conway and Mitchell Hay then powered the hosts to a 73-run lead before Duffy and Rae dismantled West Indies in their second outing.

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)
New Zealand 278 (Mitchell Hay 61, Devon Conway 60; Anderson Phillip 3-70) & 57/1 (Devon Conway 28*, Kane Williamson 16*)
Result: New Zealand won by 9 wickets.