RCB bowler rewrites history, surpasses all New Zealand legends to become greatest ever

A ruthless New Zealand side delivered a crushing blow to the West Indies at Mount Maunganui, as they won the third and final Test by a massive 323 runs and sealed the home series 2-0 in dominant fashion on Monday, December 22.

The final Test match ended shortly after tea on Day 5, with the West Indies side folding for just 138 while chasing the daunting target of 462 at Mount Maunganui. They were completely outplayed on a worn-out fifth-day pitch that offered uneven bounce and sharp movement.

New Zealand crush West Indies by 323 runs to seal dominant 2-0 Test Series

The innings ended barely four overs after the tea break on the final day, but the damage had already been done around the lunch break. From a steady 87 without loss, the visitors slid to 112 for eight as the collapse was sudden and dramatic against the Kiwis.

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Jacob Duffy was the chief destroyer once again, as they could add only 26 more runs. The seamer ran through the West Indies batting lineup to finish with outstanding figures of 5/42. He received strong support from spinner Ajaz Patel, who used the rough patches smartly to pick up 3/23.

Brandon King was the lone fighter for the West Indies, scoring 67, while the rest of the batting order failed to cope with the pressure. Earlier, New Zealand had completely taken control with the bat. Devon Conway produced a memorable performance, scoring 227 in the first innings and following it up with another 100 in the second.

Jacob Duffy and Ajaz Patel tear through the West Indies at Mount Maunganui

New Zealand captain Tom Latham also hit 137 and 101 across the innings. Conway and Latham created history by becoming the first opening duo in red-ball cricket to score centuries in both innings of the same match. Later, the West Indies had begun the final day at 43 without loss, with King looking comfortable and John Campbell at the other end.

However, the dismissal of Campbell triggered a stunning collapse, and the innings never recovered. Duffy and Patel kept attacking both edges of the bat, exploiting the cracked surface to perfection as the touring side was bowled out for 138, with New Zealand clinching the three-match Test series 2-0.

The Christchurch Test ended in a draw, but the Black Caps managed to win the second Test in Wellington before finishing the job in emphatic style at Mount Maunganui.

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RCB's new recruit Jacob Duffy shatters Richard Hadlee’s 40-year-old record with a remarkable show

This Test series was nothing short of exceptional for Jacob Duffy. The star fast bowler finished the home series as the leading wicket taker with 23 scalps at an average of just 15.4, including three five-wicket hauls. He was far better than the other bowlers in the West Indies Test series.

His remarkable performance against the Caribbean side took his tally to 81 in international cricket this year, and he went on to script history. Duffy becomes the player with the most wickets in a calendar year for New Zealand.

Duffy broke the 40-year-old record of the legendary Sir Richard Hadlee’s tally of 80 wickets in a calendar year. Over the course of the three Tests, the fast bowler bowled more than 154 overs, carrying the New Zealand attack as their tireless workhorse against the West Indies.

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