Jacob Duffy claimed his maiden five-wicket haul to put New Zealand in a commanding position during the first Test against the West Indies at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. The right-arm seamer registered impressive figures of 5 for 34 in 17.4 overs. Consequently, the West Indies collapsed to 167 all out in their first innings. Moreover, New Zealand ended Day 2 with a lead of 96 runs, sitting comfortably at 32 for no loss.
The day began with New Zealand’s innings closing quickly. Specifically, Jayden Seales needed just three balls to dismiss Zak Foulkes for 4. Therefore, the hosts finished their first innings on 231, giving them a starting advantage.
Match Summary – Day 2
| Team | Innings | Score | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 1st | 231 all out | – |
| West Indies | 1st | 167 all out | NZ lead by 64 |
| New Zealand | 2nd | 32/0 | Overall lead: 96 runs |
New Zealand’s bowlers started aggressively in response. Indeed, Zakary Foulkes struck immediately, making John Campbell edge to third slip for just 1 run. Subsequently, Matt Henry joined the attack and cleaned up Alick Athanaze for 4, leaving West Indies struggling at 10 for 2.
However, Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Shai Hope steadied the innings brilliantly. Furthermore, their partnership added 90 crucial runs, bringing West Indies back into the contest. Chanderpaul scored 52 while Hope contributed 56, demonstrating excellent batting technique under pressure.
Key Bowling Performances
Jacob Duffy:
- Figures: 5 for 34 (17.4 overs)
- Maiden five-wicket haul
- Crucial wicket of Shai Hope
Matt Henry:
- Figures: 3 for 43
- Removed captain Roston Chase (0)
- Dismissed Justin Greaves (0) in the same over
The turning point came when Duffy dismissed Hope, catching him behind through wicketkeeper Tom Latham. Immediately afterward, Henry removed both Chase and Greaves in the same over. Therefore, the West Indies went into tea on 120 for 5, suddenly under severe pressure.
After tea, Chanderpaul brought up his second Test half-century, keeping West Indies’ hopes alive. Nevertheless, Duffy unleashed a devastating spell that destroyed the visitors’ tail. Specifically, he cleaned up the lower order in rapid succession, showcasing excellent pace and accuracy.
West Indies Batting Scorecard
- John Campbell: 1
- Tagenarine Chanderpaul: 52 (top scorer)
- Alick Athanaze: 4
- Shai Hope: 56
- Roston Chase: 0
- Justin Greaves: 0
- All out: 167
In New Zealand’s second innings, openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway navigated a tricky final session successfully. Additionally, they scored 32 runs in seven overs without losing a wicket. Latham remained unbeaten on 14 while Conway stayed not out on 15. Consequently, the hosts went to stumps in a strong position with a 96-run overall lead.
Earlier on Day 1, the West Indies’ pace attack had dominated proceedings. Particularly, Kemar Roach led the charge with early wickets. Moreover, debutant Ojay Shields and Justin Greaves contributed effectively. Nevertheless, Kane Williamson’s elegant fifty of 50 runs helped New Zealand recover from early setbacks.
Rain interrupted play multiple times on the opening day, with more than an hour lost during the morning session. Despite these interruptions, 70 overs of action proved possible throughout the day.
Jacob Duffy career-best figures have positioned New Zealand perfectly for victory, with the hosts eyeing a strong first-innings lead that could prove decisive in this opening Test match.
