WELLINGTON, New Zealand — On a day when the West Indies’ bowlers clawed their way back into the contest with discipline and persistence, New Zealand struck twice in the fading light to reassert command of the second Test.
Jacob Duffy and Michael Rae delivered pivotal late blows that left the visitors wobbling at 32 for two, still trailing by 41 runs and under mounting pressure heading into day three on Friday.
Rae ignited the damage with a riveting inswinger that uprooted John Campbell for 14, while Duffy followed up moments later, trapping nightwatchman Anderson Phillip plumb in front without scoring. After a day of grit and revival, those final minutes swung the momentum sharply back toward the hosts.
Roach and Phillip lead the charge
Earlier, the West Indies had revived their fortunes with an incisive bowling display anchored by Anderson Phillip, restricting New Zealand to 278 after the home side appeared poised for much more. The 73-run lead was far from ideal but significantly less daunting than what once seemed inevitable.
New Zealand, resuming on 24 without loss, added only 16 before Kemar Roach produced a sublime delivery that defeated Tom Latham’s inside edge and clipped the off stump. It was a breakthrough the visitors desperately needed.
A partnership that tested the tourists
Devon Conway and Kane Williamson then mounted a firm resistance, stitching together 67 valuable runs and frustrating the Windies’ attack for almost 90 minutes. Conway survived a major let-off on 29 when Brandon King spilled a sharp chance at leg slip off Jayden Seales. Seizing the reprieve, Conway marched to his 13th Test half century off 90 balls, guiding a drive from Ojay Shields toward deep backward point for two just before lunch.
But the session ended with a twist. Williamson, having played with characteristic fluency for a brisk 37 off 46 deliveries, had his stumps rattled by Phillip with the interval in sight. The wicket shifted the tone just as the players walked off.
Momentum swings after lunch
The West Indies struck almost immediately after the resumption. Roach coaxed an edge from Rachin Ravindra, caught behind for five. Soon after, Justin Greaves benefitted from an ill-disciplined glance down the leg side from Conway, whose 60 ended in the gloves of Tevin Imlach with New Zealand on 117 for four.
At that stage the visitors had seized the momentum. But debutant Mitchell Hay and Daryl Mitchell restored stability through a composed 73-run partnership that steered the hosts away from danger.
Windies drag NZ back yet again
Phillip broke the stand by drawing a leg-side edge from Mitchell, snaffled smartly by Imlach for 25 with the total at 190 for five. Hay, showing maturity beyond his experience, powered to his maiden Test half century, twice driving Shields to the boundary as New Zealand reached tea on 200 for five, just shy of the West Indies’ first-inning score.
After the break, New Zealand overtook the visitors and appeared set to build a sizeable lead. But the innings faltered under renewed pressure. Hay, after pulling Shields for consecutive boundaries, overreached in pursuit of a third and found Roach at fine leg to fall for 61 at 213 for six.
Glenn Phillips chipped in 18 before holing out to Phillip at deep midwicket off Roston Chase, and Phillip returned to remove Duffy for 11. Seales completed the resistance by bowling Rae, sealing a collapse in which New Zealand lost their last five wickets for just 65 runs.
Phillip finished with the standout figures of 3 for 70, while Roach claimed 2 for 43.
A night that undid a day’s work
Yet even after all that effort, the late strikes from Rae and Duffy shifted the dynamic once again, leaving the West Indies with a precarious rebuild ahead.
