Jacob Duffy produced a historic performance as New Zealand completed a dominant T20I series victory over the West Indies in Dunedin. After losing the opening match, the Black Caps bounced back emphatically, winning three matches in succession while the fourth was abandoned due to rain, thus claiming the series in authoritative style.
In the fifth and final match at the University Oval, New Zealand bowled with precision and batted with flair. Duffy was the architect of victory, taking four crucial wickets for 35 runs in his four overs. His relentless consistency throughout the series saw him finish with 10 wickets, earning both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honours.
By achieving four wickets in a T20I innings for the fifth time, Duffy broke new ground in New Zealand cricket, surpassing Tim Southee and Ish Sodhi, who had previously recorded the feat four times each. His series-long brilliance provided the Black Caps with the momentum they needed to dominate the visitors.
Dunedin’s University Oval once again proved to be a fortress for New Zealand, as the hosts extended their unbeaten run at the venue to 18 matches — an unprecedented streak in international cricket.
During the run chase, Tim Robinson and Devon Conway laid a solid platform with a 69-run partnership in just over seven overs. Robinson scored a scintillating 45 from 24 balls before falling to Romario Shepherd. Rachin Ravindra added 21, and the innings was rounded off by Conway, unbeaten on 47, and Mark Chapman, who smashed 21 from 13 balls, steering the team to an eight-wicket victory with 26 balls remaining.
West Indies had begun shakily, losing four wickets for 21 runs. Rovman Powell and Roston Chase briefly stabilised the innings, scoring 11 and 38 respectively, but the middle order collapsed. Romario Shepherd’s late 36 off 22 balls offered little resistance, leaving New Zealand to seal the series in commanding fashion.
Duffy’s record-breaking performance and the team’s cohesive display reinforce New Zealand’s dominance in home T20Is and highlight their formidable depth in both batting and bowling.