3rd Test: New Zealand crush West Indies, seal series 2-0
What's the story
New Zealand secured a resounding victory over the West Indies in the third and final Test match by a massive margin of 323 runs. The win was largely due to an impressive bowling performance on the final day in Mt Maunganui. The West Indies, chasing a daunting target of 462 runs, were bundled out for just 138 runs. The likes of Tom Latham, Devon Conway, and Jacob Duffy were NZ's key performers as the hosts sealed the series 2-0.
Summary
How did the game pan out?
NZ openers Latham and Conway added 323 runs en route to their respective tons as NZ posted 575/8d batting first. Conway got a double-hundred. Kavem Hodge made a valiant 123* as the West Indies were bowled out for 420. Both Conway and Latham scored hundreds yet again, powering NZ to 306/2 in the third innings. Chasing 462, WI were folded for 138 as Duffy took five wickets in the innings and nine in the match.
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West Indies falter in final innings
The West Indies started their final innings on a positive note, with openers Brandon King (67) and John Campbell (16) taking the score to 87/0. However, things took a turn for the worse as they lost five wickets in just 11 runs and 10 overs. Ajaz Patel and Duffy shared nine wickets as no other batters besides King could touch the 20-run mark in the innings.
Record feat
Conway scripts history for NZ
Conway backed his 227 off 367 balls in the first innings with a fiery 100 off 139 deliveries. He became only the 10th player and first New Zealander to score a double-century and century in the same Test. Conway's combined score of 327 runs is the third-highest for a New Zealander in a single Test match. As per ESPNcricinfo, he and Latham are now among the seven NZ batters with twin hundreds in a Test match.
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Conway gets past 2,500 Test runs
Conway now owns seven tons in Test cricket. The left-handed batter has raced past 2,500 runs (now 2,533) from 32 matches at an average of 43.67(50s: 13). 452 of his runs have come in three Tests versus WI at an excellent average of 90.40 (100: 2, 50: 1).
Partnership
Two massive stands between Conway and Latham
Conway recorded 190-plus opening stands with his skipper Latham in both innings. The first innings saw them record the second-highest opening partnership for New Zealand in Test cricket. Their 323 is only behind the 387-run stand between Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis against West Indies in Georgetown in 1972. They further added 192 runs in the third innings. Notably, Latham and Conway marked the first instance of both opening batters recording twin centuries in a Test match.
Latham
16th Test ton for Latham
Latham made a 246-ball 137 in the first innings and backed it up with a fiery 101 off just 130 deliveries. He became the first NZ batter to accomplish twin hundreds in a Test match as a designated captain. Overall, Latham raced to his 16th century in Test cricket. He has completed 6,261 Test runs at 39.62. His tally also includes 31 half-centuries. 909 of his Test runs have come against WI at 53.47 (100s: 3, 50s: 4).
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Latham completes 1,000 Test runs as captain
Earlier in the game, Latham also completed 1,000 Test runs as captain. While leading the Kiwis in 18 Tests, he has scored 1,178 runs at an average of 36.81. He now has four Test tons as NZ's skipper.
Ravindra
Ravindra also played two fine hands
Rachin Ravindra, who played a 176-run knock in the series opener, managed an unbeaten 106-ball 72* in the first innings. He further made a fiery 23-ball 46* in his next outing. The left-handed batter has raced to 1,526 Test runs at an average of 47.68. Ravindra raced to his fifth Test fifty (100s: 4). Playing his maiden Test series against WI, the batter finished with 302 runs at 100.66.
Hodge
Fine hundred from Hodge
Hodge scored an unbeaten 123 off 275 balls in his first outing before bagging a duck. The batter has completed 714 Test runs at an average of 28.56. He now has two centuries and three half-centuries to his name. Apart from New Zealand, he also scored a Test century against England.
King
Twin fifties for King
Besides Hodge, King was the only other WI batter with a 50-plus score in the match. The opener hammered twin fifties as his scores read 63 off 104 balls and 67 off 96 balls. The opener now has three Test fifties, which have taken his tally to 332 Test runs at 27.66. He maiden fifty came against Australia earlier this year.
Duffy
Three fifers in the series for Duffy
Duffy recorded figures worth 4/86 and 5/42 in the game - resulting in his best match figures in Tests (9/128). The in-form pacer, who claimed fifers in each of the first two Tests, finished the series with 23 wickets at 15.43, as per ESPNcricinfo. Overall in Tests, he now boasts 25 wickets from four Tests at 16.28.
DYK
Duffy surpasses Hadlee's 1985 record
With his latest spell, Duffy also broke Richard Hadlee's long-standing record of most international wickets by a NZ bowler in a calendar year. The pacer has taken his tally to an impressive 81 wickets for the Black Caps this year at 17.11. Duffy's achievement comes after he surpassed Hadlee's record of 79 wickets in 23 matches for New Zealand in 1985.