New Zealand delivered a commanding statement in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle after completing a dominant 2-0 series victory over the West Indies with a massive 323-run win in the third Test at Mount Maunganui.
The emphatic triumph propelled the Black Caps to second place in the WTC standings, underlining their credentials as strong contenders for a spot in the final at Lord’s.
Black Caps Dominate at Home
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, New Zealand laid the foundation for victory with a monumental batting display.
Openers Devon Conway and captain Tom Latham stitched together a record-breaking 323-run partnership, completely taking the game away from a depleted West Indies bowling attack.
Conway was at his fluent best, scoring a superb 227, while Latham provided excellent support with a classy 137. Their efforts powered New Zealand to a massive first-innings total of 575 for 8 declared, leaving the visitors under immediate pressure.
West Indies responded with 420 in their first innings, with Kavem Hodge scoring a fighting century, but they were still left trailing significantly on a pitch that began to show signs of wear.
Conway, Latham Rewrite Record Books
New Zealand doubled down in the second innings, once again riding on the brilliance of their opening pair. Conway followed his double century with another masterful 100, while Latham added 101, as the duo put on 192 runs.
New Zealand declared at 306 for 2, setting West Indies an imposing target of 462.
Conway became the first New Zealander and only the 10th player in Test history to score a double century and a century in the same match. Meanwhile, Conway and Latham amassed a staggering 515 runs across two innings, the highest aggregate by an opening pair in Test cricket.
Duffy Leads Relentless Bowling Attack
Chasing an improbable target, West Indies started positively but collapsed dramatically on the final day. From 87 without loss, the visitors slumped to 138 all out as New Zealand’s bowlers ran through the lineup on a deteriorating fifth-day surface.
Fast bowler Jacob Duffy was the standout performer, claiming 5 for 42 in the second innings. Ajaz Patel provided excellent support with figures of 3 for 23, as the visitors lost 10 wickets for just 51 runs.
Duffy’s performance capped a sensational series, in which he finished with 23 wickets at an average of 15.4, including three five-wicket hauls.
He also surpassed Sir Richard Hadlee’s record for the most wickets taken by a New Zealand bowler in a calendar year, earning him the Player of the Series award.
Injury-Hit Attacks and Clinical Execution
The series was played amid significant injury concerns for both sides. West Indies missed key pacers Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph, while New Zealand were without several frontline quicks.
Despite this, the hosts adapted superbly, with Duffy stepping up as the leader of the attack.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham praised the team’s execution, calling the performance “the perfect blueprint” for success in Test cricket.
Third Test, Mount Maunganui (Day 5)
New Zealand:
575/8 declared
(Devon Conway 227, Tom Latham 137)
306/2 declared
(Tom Latham 101, Devon Conway 100)
West Indies:
420 all out
(Kavem Hodge 123)
138 all out
(Jacob Duffy 5/42)
Result: New Zealand won by 323 runs
Big Boost in WTC Race
With this win, New Zealand has strengthened its position in the WTC standings and sent a clear message to rivals ahead of the remaining matches in the cycle.
