Final result
New Zealand Cricket won by 323 runs
Player of the match: DP Conway
Result · Test Cricket
New Zealand Cricket vs West Indies
Result · Test Cricket
Venue par · 211Chase success · 46%POTM · DP Conway
Match preview & overview
Conway's 327 powers New Zealand to 323-run win over West Indies at Bay Oval
New Zealand beat West Indies by 323 runs in the Bay Oval Test on 18 December 2025, one of the most comprehensive victories in this fixture's recent history. Devon Conway scored 327 off 506 balls and Tom Latham added 238 off 376 balls as New Zealand posted 575/8 in their first innings, a total more than 360 runs above Bay Oval's historical average of 211. West Indies replied with 420 but never threatened to make the game competitive. A second-innings declaration of 306/2 left West Indies needing 462 to win; they were bowled out for 138. Conway took the player-of-the-match award.
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat, a decision that shaped the entire contest. Two batters passing 200 in the same innings transformed what could have been a hard-fought game into a one-sided exercise. West Indies' first-innings 420 showed some resistance, but a deficit of 155 runs was always going to be too large to overcome once New Zealand pushed their second-innings lead beyond 460.
JA Duffy's 9 wickets for 128 runs across 57.5 overs was the bowling performance that sealed the result. West Indies' second-innings collapse to 138 confirmed that, once the pitch began offering assistance, their batting had no answer.
Pitch report & venue insights
Bay Oval — 55-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2013–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
55
T20 matches hosted
211
Avg 1st-innings score
199
Avg 2nd-innings score
46%
Chase success rate
43
Avg powerplay runs
65%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
Conway's 327 anchors a massive first-innings total
Devon Conway scored 327 off 506 balls, the player-of-the-match performance that set the tone for the entire game. New Zealand declared (or closed) their first innings on 575/8, a total more than 360 runs above Bay Oval's historical average first-innings score of 211. That gap made the match almost impossible for West Indies to recover from.
Angle 02
Latham contributed 238 in the same innings
Angle 03
West Indies folded for 138 chasing 462
Angle 04
New Zealand's head-to-head dominance continued
Angle 05
Bay Oval's toss and chase data worked against West Indies
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top New Zealand batter markets may warrant attention in future fixtures given Conway and Latham both scored double-hundreds in the same innings here, suggesting the Bay Oval surface can produce extended big-score conditions.
- With a chase success rate of just 44 per cent across 55 matches at Bay Oval, first-innings totals and match-winner markets may offer more predictive value than outright result lines.
- Bowling performance markets could be worth tracking given Duffy's 9-wicket haul in this fixture; Bay Oval's conditions appear to support front-line seamers across extended spells.
- West Indies' recent form against New Zealand (four losses in four completed 2025 fixtures) is context any market involving these two sides in 2025-26 should account for, though form at that level is never a guarantee of future outcomes.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about New Zealand Cricket vs West Indies
Who won the New Zealand vs West Indies Test at Bay Oval in December 2025?
New Zealand won by 323 runs. They posted 575/8 in their first innings, bowled West Indies out for 420, declared their second innings on 306/2, and then dismissed West Indies for 138 in the fourth innings.
Who was player of the match in the Bay Oval Test?
Devon Conway was named player of the match after scoring 327 off 506 balls in New Zealand's first innings. It was the standout individual performance of the game and one of the highest scores recorded at Bay Oval.
What is the head-to-head record between New Zealand and West Indies in Tests?
New Zealand lead the all-time head-to-head 45 wins to 17 across 71 completed meetings, with 6 no results. New Zealand have won four of their five fixtures against West Indies in 2025, with one match producing no result.
Where to watch New Zealand vs West Indies Test cricket in the UK?
Test cricket involving New Zealand and West Indies is typically available in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, with live streaming through Sky Go and NOW TV. BBC Radio Test Match Special also provides ball-by-ball commentary for select fixtures. Check listings ahead of each day's play as UK broadcast schedules vary across the five-day schedule.
How did JA Duffy perform in this Test?
JA Duffy took 9 wickets for 128 runs across 57.5 overs in the match, making him the standout bowler on either side. His haul played a key role in limiting West Indies' first-innings response and breaking their second-innings resistance.
Did Tom Latham score a double hundred in this Test?
Yes. Latham scored 238 off 376 balls in New Zealand's first innings, batting alongside Conway who made 327. Both players passing 200 in the same innings at a venue with an average first-innings score of 211 shows how far New Zealand outperformed the ground's historical norms.
Photo credits (1)
- Kane Williamson — photo by Mark Lockett, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source