On a brisk Thursday in Dunedin, New Zealand’s cricket faithful witnessed a clinical display as their national team secured a commanding eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in the fifth and final Twenty20 International, clinching the five-match series 3-1. The result, achieved with 26 balls to spare, underscored New Zealand’s growing prowess in the shortest format, while also highlighting the emergence of Jacob Duffy as a genuine match-winner on home turf.
Jacob Duffy, the Otago pacer, delivered a spell that will be long remembered at University Oval. With figures of 4-35, Duffy tormented the West Indies top order, taking three pivotal wickets in a single over—his third—to leave the visitors reeling at 21 for four. The early breakthrough set the tone for the match and, ultimately, the series. "I guess in Twenty20, a huge asset of mine is that swing up top and taking wickets in the power play is always pretty important," Duffy reflected after the match. "Maybe less so against the West Indies, such is the length of their batting lineup. I guess that's always my role in the team is to swing the ball up top and try to make things happen."
Duffy’s impact was immediate. After Alick Athanaze launched the first ball of the match for a six, Kyle Jamieson responded by dismissing Athanaze in the very next over. Duffy then went on a rampage, removing Shai Hope for 11, Ackeem Auguste for 8, and Sherfane Rutherford for a duck—all in the third over. The West Indies’ aggressive intent, signaled by their decision to bat first after losing the toss, quickly unraveled as the New Zealand seamers exploited a pitch offering plenty of movement. The pressure was relentless, with 19 dot balls in the first five overs choking the West Indies’ scoring opportunities.
Rovman Powell’s brief resistance ended at 11, leaving the tourists at a precarious 48 for five. It was left to Roston Chase (38) and Jason Holder (20) to attempt a rescue act, their 42-run partnership providing a glimmer of hope. But it was Romario Shepherd’s late onslaught that gave the West Indies something to cheer about. Shepherd smashed three fours and three sixes in a rapid 36 off 22 balls, briefly threatening to push the total to a more competitive level. However, Duffy returned to dismiss Shepherd and close out the innings, with the West Indies bowled out for 140 in just 18.4 overs.
The chase was always likely to be a formality on a surface that had begun to flatten out. Devon Conway, as steady as ever, anchored the New Zealand reply with an unbeaten 47. Conway’s composure allowed his partners to play with freedom. Tim Robinson, opening alongside him, blazed to 45 from just 24 balls—his innings featuring five boundaries and three towering sixes. Their opening partnership of 69 set the tone, and when Robinson fell, Rachin Ravindra (21) and Mark Chapman (21 not out) kept the momentum going. Conway and Chapman’s unbroken 35-run stand guided the hosts home in the 16th over, sealing the series with style.
For New Zealand, this victory capped a series that had been anything but one-sided. The West Indies drew first blood in the opening match, eking out a seven-run win in a tense finish. The next two contests went down to the final over as well, with New Zealand holding their nerve to win by three runs and nine runs respectively. Rain had the final say in the fourth match, washing out any hopes of an early series decision. But in Dunedin, the hosts left nothing to chance, asserting their dominance with both bat and ball.
Jacob Duffy’s heroics throughout the series did not go unnoticed. With 10 wickets across the four completed matches, he was a deserving recipient of the Player of the Series award. His efforts also saw him become the third-fastest New Zealand bowler to reach 50 T20I wickets, achieving the milestone in just 38 matches. Duffy’s strike rate now stands as the best among New Zealand bowlers with at least 20 T20I wickets, a testament to his knack for delivering breakthroughs when it matters most.
Looking back, the series was a microcosm of Twenty20 cricket at its best—tense finishes, momentum swings, and individual brilliance. The West Indies, despite the loss, showed flashes of their trademark flair. Alick Athanaze’s audacious six to start the fifth T20, Shepherd’s late fireworks, and the resilience of Chase and Holder all hinted at the depth and danger within their ranks. Yet, consistency eluded them when it mattered most. The absence of key players due to injury—Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Ramon Simmonds, and Jediah Blades—was certainly felt, particularly as the series wore on and the bowling attack was stretched.
For the West Indies, the road ahead offers a chance at redemption. The teams now turn their attention to a three-match One Day International series, beginning Sunday at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The visitors will be bolstered by the return of top-order batter John Campbell, while the pace attack will be reinforced with the arrivals of Matthew Forde, Johann Layne, and Shamar Springer. Still, the loss of their injured stars will test the squad’s depth and adaptability.
Meanwhile, New Zealand will look to carry this momentum into the ODI series. With the likes of Conway, Robinson, and Duffy in red-hot form, expectations are high. The home crowd will be eager to see if the Black Caps can replicate their T20 dominance in the longer white-ball format. The University Oval may have been the stage for the T20I curtain call, but all eyes now shift to Christchurch, where new battles await.
As the sun set over Dunedin, the New Zealand players celebrated a job well done, their focus already turning to the challenges ahead. For cricket fans, the promise of more high-octane action in the ODI series is just around the corner. After a T20 series defined by close finishes, individual brilliance, and a touch of Kiwi magic, anticipation is building for what comes next.
With the T20 leg wrapped up and both teams regrouping, Sunday’s ODI opener promises to deliver yet another chapter in this spirited trans-Tasman contest. Will New Zealand’s winning streak continue, or will the West Indies find a way to bounce back? The answers will unfold soon at Hagley Oval.
