Black Caps seal 2-0 series sweep against spirited West Indies

Black Caps seal 2-0 series sweep against spirited West Indies

Set 462 to win the Test and tie the series, it was always going to be a record-breaking task for the West Indies. But it was made insurmountable by the Bay Oval's treacherous surface of broken plates passing for a day five pitch.

Nonetheless, the visitors began stoically. Openers John Campbell and Brandon King returned to start the final day on 43/0, having survived 16 overs the previous afternoon.  

The duo poked, prodded and when drinks were called, the West Indies had amassed 74 runs without fault and the Black Caps were undoubtedly wondering if they'd left themselves enough time to bowl them out.

But when King (67) failed to deal with a short ball from Duffy in the 33rd over, the dam wall broke. Spinner Ajaz Patel dismissed Campbell (16 off 105) and Kavem Hodge for a duck in consecutive overs, while Duffy picked up Alick Athanaze and Justin Greaves as lunch was called. The West Indies had slumped to 99/5 in no time

Shai Hope, Roston Chase and Tevin Imlach soaked up an incredible amount of pressure after the break. Hope continued to block and evade as his partners fell, but his epic vigil of 3 off 78 came to an end after he was trapped in front by Patel.

Part-timers Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra chipped in with wickets before Duffy got his fifth wicket in style, cleaning up Jayden Seals to secure the Test and series victory.

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