Discover the highlights and key moments from the NZ vs WI 2nd Test. Stay updated with match analysis, player performances, and expert insights.

🏏 NZ vs WI 2nd Test: Hosts Dominate Day 1 in Wellington, But Pacer Tickner Suffers Injury Blow

WELLINGTON, December 10, 2025 – New Zealand took firm control on Day 1 of the second Test against the West Indies at the Cello Basin Reserve, bowling out the visitors for 205 before finishing the day at 24/0. However, the Black Caps’ dominant performance was overshadowed by a serious shoulder injury to pace bowler Blair Tickner, who was instrumental in the collapse.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and elected to field, a decision that initially seemed questionable as the West Indies openers, John Campbell and Brandon King, put on a solid 66-run stand.

💥 NZ vs WI 2nd Test: West Indies Collapse After Solid Start

The visitors, riding high on confidence after their heroic draw in the first Test, were comfortably placed at 175/4 at the Tea break. But the final session saw a dramatic and familiar collapse of the West Indies middle and lower order, who lost their last 6 wickets for just 30 runs.

The destruction was spearheaded by the new-look New Zealand pace attack:

• Blair Tickner (4/32): The returning pacer bowled a match-defining spell, picking up the crucial wickets of Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, and Roston Chase.
• Michael Rae (3/67): The debutant impressed with his consistency and accounted for John Campbell, Justin Greaves, and Kemar Roach.

Shai Hope top-scored for the West Indies with a composed 48, while John Campbell contributed 44. The middle-order resistance offered by Hope and captain Roston Chase (29) proved fleeting as Tickner and Rae exploited the conditions in the final session.

🚑 NZ vs WI 2nd Test: Injury Concern for Blair Tickner

The main talking point of the day came late in the third session when Blair Tickner suffered a nasty-looking injury. After delivering a magnificent spell, he fell heavily while diving to stop a boundary at fine leg, clutching his left shoulder immediately. He was stretchered off the field and taken to a local hospital for scans.

This injury is a significant blow for the Black Caps, who are already battling an injury crisis that ruled out key seamers like Matt Henry and Nathan Smith, and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.

🇳🇿 NZ vs WI 2nd Test: New Zealand Steady in Reply

In the nine overs before stumps, New Zealand’s openers Tom Latham (7)* and Devon Conway (16)* safely navigated the new ball to take the score to 24/0, trailing the West Indies by 181 runs. They will look to consolidate on Day 2 and build a commanding lead.

NZ vs WI 2nd Test: Key Takeaways from Day 1

• Toss Advantage Used: New Zealand’s decision to bowl first paid off handsomely, despite a slow start.
• Pace Duo Strikes: The returning Tickner and debutant Rae stepped up brilliantly in the absence of senior players.
• West Indies Batting Woes Return: The tourists failed to replicate the patience and resilience shown in their fourth-innings effort during the drawn first Test.
• Tickner’s Loss: The nature and severity of Blair Tickner’s shoulder injury will be a major concern for the hosts moving forward.

New Zealand will start Day 2 with the clear advantage, but the pressure will be on their makeshift attack to maintain control if Tickner is ruled out of the rest of the match.

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🇳🇿 Black Caps Dominate to Claim 9-Wicket Victory in 2nd Test against West Indies 🏏

New Zealand have secured a commanding 9-wicket victory over the West Indies in the Second Test at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, taking an unassailable 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The match, which finished inside three days, saw the Black Caps display a superior performance in both bowling and batting, capitalising on the West Indies’ inability to convert good starts into substantial scores.

🌟 NZ vs WI 2nd Test: Key Moments & Match Summary

Result: New Zealand won by 9 wickets.

Player of the Match: Jacob Duffy (NZ)

⬆️ New Zealand’s Dominance

New Zealand set up the victory by securing a crucial 73-run first-innings lead after bowling out the West Indies for 205. The host’s first innings was highlighted by debutant wicketkeeper-batsman Mitchell Hay’s aggressive 61 and an equally important 60 from Devon Conway. Hay’s composed knock, coming at a tricky stage, helped consolidate the innings after the quick dismissals of Kane Williamson (37) and Rachin Ravindra (5).

The bowling attack, though impacted by a day-one shoulder injury to the impressive Blair Tickner (4-32 in the first innings), rallied brilliantly in the West Indies’ second innings. They restricted the visitors to just 128, leaving a meager target of 53 runs.

🎯 Second Innings Bowling Heroics

The spearhead in the second innings was debutant pacer Jacob Duffy, who claimed a decisive five-wicket haul (5-38). Supported well by Michael Rae (3-45) and Zak Foulkes (1-39), the New Zealand bowlers consistently struck crucial blows, preventing any significant partnership from developing for the West Indies. Kavem Hodge’s 35 was the top score in the second innings for the visitors.

The small target of 53 was easily chased down by New Zealand’s openers and Kane Williamson, wrapping up the match on Day 3.

🤕 Injury Setback for Black Caps

The only major concern for the Black Caps came on Day 1 when pacer Blair Tickner suffered a dislocated left shoulder while fielding. Having produced a career-best spell of 4-32 to trigger the West Indies’ first-innings collapse, his injury meant he could not bowl or field for the remainder of the match. His absence is a worry heading into the final Test.

📉 NZ vs WI 2nd Test: West Indies’ Batting Woes

Despite flashes of resistance, notably from Shai Hope’s 48 in the first innings, the West Indies’ batting unit failed to fire collectively. Captain Roston Chase expressed concerns over the team’s inability to convert starts, a critical factor in their swift defeat. The early breakthroughs by the New Zealand bowlers in both innings consistently put the West Indies on the back foot.

📅 What’s Next?

With the series now 1-0 in favour of New Zealand, the teams head to Mount Maunganui for the Third and Final Test, scheduled to begin on December 18th. The West Indies will be fighting to level the series, while the Black Caps will look to seal a dominant home series victory.