New Zealand take control as Duffy’s five-wicket burst derails the West Indies
Stumps: New Zealand 231 and 32 for 0 lead West Indies 167 by 96 runs. NZ’s first-innings total featured Williamson’s 52 and Bracwell’s 47, with Duffy finishing with five for 34 and Henry claiming three for 43. West Indies, bowled out for 167, saw Hope 56 and Chanderpaul 52 provide resistance, while crucial catches went down as four chances were missed, three off Henry, and 28 extras crept into the tally. At the close, NZ were 32 without loss in their second innings, extending their lead.
Morning session unfolded with a flurry of early wickets for New Zealand. Zak Foulkes struck with his very first ball of the second over, as he edged Jayden Seales to leave the visitors 2-? and then unravelled further in the next over, removing John Campbell at the crease with a ball bowled around the wicket. Will Young dived to third slip to complete the take. Soon after, a slight miscue from Henry gave West Indies a reprieve when Alick Athanaze edged one and was dropped by Henry at leg slip, though Henry soon made amends by beating Athanaze’s stumps with a late inswinger.
The scoreboard trudged along slowly as West Indies slipped to 10 for 2 after 12 overs. Hope and Chanderpaul steadied the innings, with Hope finding a boundary in the 23rd over by driving Duffy through covers while Chanderpaul rode out the pressure, repeatedly surviving deliveries that threatened to break the stand. Hope, wearing sunglasses due to an eye infection for much of the day, reached a fifty after lunch as Chanderpaul also looked comfortable. Facing a new plan, New Zealand had to rethink their approach as Hope joined Chanderpaul in building a steady partnership.
Duffy briefly targeted Hope with shorter balls, which the batsman absorbed until a short-leg fielding setup made life tougher for him. When a short ball was gloved to Tom Latham behind the stumps, the stand began to fracture. Blundell, unable to field in the morning due to a hamstring issue, watched from the pavilion as substitutions carried on.
Henry returned to strike twice in one over, bowling away from the stumps to dismiss Roston Chase and Justin Greaves and reduce the score to 106 for 5. Chanderpaul, unfazed, continued his measured tempo and combined with Tevin Imlach to push the eighth-wicket stand to 34 before Conway finally held on to a sharp chance at leg slip.
Kemar Roach’s edge was snared by Henry’s edge, but Bracewell�s quick dive at first slip spared West Indies another setback. The light faded, and play moved behind the bowler’s arm as darkness forced players to rely on spinners only. A brief rain interruption gave way to renewed action, and Duffy wasted no time after the restart by trapping Imlach leg-side and claiming his own completed five-wicket haul as Layne was bowled in the same over. Seales and Ojay Shields followed in the same over as Duffy finished with five for 34.
Overall, New Zealand hold the advantage after Day 2 in Christchurch, thanks to Duffy’s breakthrough innings and Henry’s support, with the home side looking to extend their lead in the final day of the Test.
