Duffy Dominates: New Zealand Seizes Day 2 Advantage Over West Indies

Seamer Jacob Duffy achieved his first five-wicket haul, giving New Zealand a significant advantage with a strong first-innings lead in the opening Test against West Indies at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on Wednesday.

Duffy’s impressive figures of 5 for 34 were instrumental in dismissing West Indies for 167, a collapse from a promising position of 100 for two at one point.

In response to New Zealand’s first-innings total of 231, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Shai Hope were the only West Indies batsmen to score half-centuries amid an otherwise weak performance.

New Zealand ended a day of interrupted play on 32 without loss, extending their overall lead to 96 runs. Openers Tom Latham (14) and Devon Conway (15) aim to widen the gap against West Indies when play continues on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand quickly claimed two wickets on a lively pitch, but Hope and Chanderpaul steadied the innings with a partnership of 90 for the third wicket.

Hope was dismissed for 56, caught behind off a short ball from Duffy, while Matt Henry (3/43) capitalized by quickly taking the wickets of West Indies captain Roston Chase and Justin Greaves.

Chanderpaul, initially shaky and twice dropped, eventually found his form, constructing a well-earned fifty. His laborious 169-ball innings ended with a pull shot caught by an airborne Devon Conway, who redeemed himself for an earlier drop.

When play resumed after a rain break, Duffy delivered a two-wicket maiden over, hastening the West Indies’ collapse by dismissing Jayden Seales and Ojay Shields.

Reflecting on the day’s play, all-rounder Foulkes commented, “They formed a bit of a partnership which was expected as the ball stopped swinging. Duffy took on the enforcer role brilliantly, and it was interesting to see the ball start swinging again at the end.”

Published on Dec 03, 2025.