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Sport Nation
West Indies win the day, but haven't won the war
Sport Nation • December 19th, 2025 6:30 pm
Ajaz Patel bowling in the third Test at Bay Oval | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
After all seemed lost at stumps on Day 1, the West Indies have found a new confidence and oozed that throughout today's play, changing the complexion of this final Test.
With 23 overs left to play in Day 2, the West Indies thought they might be playing damage control here with the Blackcaps' bowling attack looking to make their mark late.
A couple of early boundaries steadied the nerves for the West Indies openers, looking to chip away at the mammoth total set by the Blackcaps.
The opening partnership of John Campbell and Brandon King looked good early into their innings, smashing nine boundaries to sit at 64-0 as the teams went for drinks.
The bowling attack didn't fire a shot for the Blackcaps, with the West Indies pair seemingly in full control.
A quick half-century for Brandon King helped the West Indies to 100-0 in under 20 overs, capping off a much-improved day from the visitors.
Ajaz Patel was the most economical of the New Zealand bowlers at 0-for-9, allowing just 2.25 runs across his four overs - the left-arm spinner's first in a home Test since 2020.
Blackcaps declare and send West Indies out to finish Day 2
Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips got session three underway at Bay Oval, looking to build on their steady partnership.
Ravindra came out from Tea wanting to push this score along, sending a couple of deliveries to the boundary to bring up his 50.
But not long after their partnership hit a respectable 50, Phillips is taken at first slip, departing with 29.
A declare is in the air after that wicket and Ravindra wants to build that cushion before that happens, smashing a pair of sixes back-to-back.
Ajaz Patel joins Ravindra out in the middle after the fall of Zak Foulkes who only faced five balls, and he's quickly into his work.
The plan seemed to be get Ravindra to score as much as possible, but no one told Patel as the spinner smashes two sixes in the last over to finish with 30 from 30 deliveries.
Devon Conway during his 227-run stand at Bay Oval against the West Indies | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Three NZ wickets fall early after lunch
The overcast weather is hanging around Bay Oval, but we resume after lunch with Devon Conway hunting to be the second Blackcap to bring up a triple century.
Rachin Ravindra joins Conway out in the middle and will want to get into his work early in the session.
A monumental innings comes to an end in Tauranga with a whopping 227 before Devon Conway is given out lbw.
Daryl Mitchell is next in the order and joins Ravindra in the middle, with the West Indies getting into their groove now, it might just be a day too late.
The West Indies catching issues are compounding, dropping both of the men out in the middle with relatively routine grabs, but they finally get some redemption with the wicket of Daryl Mitchell who is unlucky to go how he did.
Tom Blundell heads out to partner Ravindra, hoping to slow down this reinvigorated West Indies attack.
But it's not long until Blundell himself makes the walk back to the changing room after he is dismissed by Seales for his second wicket of the day.
Glenn Phillips gets into his work after the dismissal of Blundell, giving himself and Ravindra some stability as their partnership builds.
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Second Test double hundred for Devon Conway before lunch
Grey clouds overhead here at Bay Oval, as well as the grey clouds over the head of the West Indies team who will hope to improve on a tough opening day.
But they will be without Shai Hope, who has remained at the hotel dealing with an illness, and veteran Kemar Roach who succumbed to a hamstring strain he picked up on Day 1.
Devon Conway picks right up where he left off, sending the first delivery of the day to the boundary.
Jacob Duffy joins him with a pair of fours himself, before being dismissed by Jayden Seales after managing an edge and being caught by Tevin Imlach.
Duffy did his job beautifully, now the hometown hero Kane Williamson makes his way out into the middle with New Zealand at 350-2.
Devon Conway reaches 200 at Bay Oval | Sport Nation Cricket
Devon Conway brings up his second Test double-century the same way he's been picking apart this West Indies attack, with a beautifully timed shot for his 28th boundary of the innings.
With a partnership of 50 building between Williamson and Conway, the Blackcaps bring up 400 runs for the loss of two.
With all things going the way of the Blackcaps, the West Indies get the wicket of Kane Williamson just before lunch.
Rachin Ravindra will look to build a decent partnership with Devon Conway when we return from lunch.
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