By Alex Powell at the Basin Reserve
There was no repeat of the West Indies’ Christchurch great escape, as the Black Caps completed victory inside three days to claim the second test in Wellington, and take an unassailable series lead in the process.
A second successive five-wicket haul from Jacob Duffy (5-38) saw New Zealand skittle the tourists for just 128, and chase down the target of 56 runs for a nine-wicket victory before tea on day three at the Basin Reserve.
The West Indies had been 32-2 overnight, but lost their last eight wickets for just 78 runs, as no batter passed 50 in the match, while the best partnership in the second innings was just 25.
Down a bowler after Blair Tickner’s injury on day one, Duffy’s haul made sure the Black Caps’ attack can enjoy two extra days’ rest, before the series finale.
Amid a fast-bowling injury crisis that’s also seen Matt Henry, Nathan Smith, Will O’Rourke and Kyle Jamieson unavailable, Duffy continued to press his case as being an undroppable part of New Zealand’s red-ball ranks, after also taking 5-34, and eight wickets in the match at Hagley Oval last week.
He was ably supported by debutant Michael Rae, who claimed another 3-45, for match figures of 6-111.
Zak Foulkes chipped in with 1-39, while the off-spin of Glenn Phillips wasn’t needed, as the West Indies folded in 46.2 overs.
Chasing only 56, and with more than two days to do it, the Black Caps lost captain Tom Latham (9), as Devon Conway (28 not out) and Kane Williamson (16 not out) got the job done - with more than 1300 deliveries left in the test.
The victory is the Black Caps’ first of the new World Test Championship cycle, banking 12 points to go with the four they netted in Christchurch, after the West Indies batted out close to two days to save a draw.
What’s more, victory ends a Wellington test drought dating back to early 2023, with losses to Australia and England in between.
New Zealand can seal the series in Tauranga next week, with their final test of the home summer at Bay Oval, before focus shifts to next year’s Twenty20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Resuming 41 runs away from making New Zealand bat again, the West Indies got through the opening half-hour unscathed, only to implode as the day wore on.
Rae’s first ball saw Brandon King drive straight to Michael Bracewell - sub-fielding in place of the injured Tickner - before the batter set off for a run, was sent back, and run out thanks to a composed gather by Mitch Hay behind the stumps.
Five balls later, the Black Caps got the big fish, when Shai Hope chipped a simple catch back to Rae for five. Having been the West Indies’ best batter on tour, Hope’s dismissal with the tourists still in deficit proved to be the hammer blow that broke the West Indies’ back.
Captain Roston Chase added just two, before he was caught behind by Hay off Duffy, taking a review with him for good measure. By the time the West Indies took the lead at 74-5, half the side was back in the dressing room.
Unbeaten overnight, Kavem Hodge pushed on to 35 before becoming the last man out before lunch, courtesy of a screamer from another sub-fielder.
A short delivery from Foulkes was pulled hard straight to Will Young at short-midwicket, who couldn’t control the ball on his first attempt, only to collect it with one hand on the second, as the West Indies crawled to 98-6 at lunch, in front by just 25 runs.
After the break, Justin Greaves couldn’t repeat his Christchurch heroics when he was pinned LBW by Duffy for 25, after a successful umpire review, as the West Indies’ last specialist batter.
Either side of Rae taking his sixth in the match, Duffy wrapped up the innings, making it two in two balls when he had Imlach (5) caught at second slip by Latham.
And although he missed out on a hat-trick, having Ojay Shields caught at fine leg by Rae as the last man to fall saw Duffy complete his five-wicket haul, and sheepishly raise the ball as he led the Black Caps from the field.
With such a small target, the hosts lost Latham, caught at third slip off Anderson Phillip, 30 runs away from victory. But Conway and Williamson dealt mostly in boundaries, and got the Black Caps to the 56-run target with minimal fuss, as New Zealand took a 1-0 series lead.
West Indies 205 & 128 (Hodge 35; Duffy 5-38, Rae 3-45)
New Zealand 278 & 57-1 (Conway 28 not out, Williamson 16 not out; Phillip 1-17)
New Zealand win by nine wickets
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.