New Zealand vs West Indies Test Series Scorecard 2025-26

West Indies arrived in New Zealand expecting a competitive Test series. Instead, they found a side that treated their bowlers like a local club team’s net bowlers, with New Zealand romping to a 2-0 series win and Devon Conway racking up 452 runs in a dominant display across all three matches.

Series Result: New Zealand 2-0 · 3rd Test Margin: New Zealand by 323 runs · Highest NZ Total: 575 for 8 · 2nd Test Margin: New Zealand by 9 wickets

Five data points define the series, with New Zealand holding the upper hand on every metric.

Has West Indies ever won a test series in New Zealand?

The short answer is no. West Indies have never claimed a Test series victory on New Zealand soil, and the 2025-26 tour extended that winless streak. New Zealand dominated from the outset, winning the final two Tests by commanding margins and keeping the tourists on the back foot throughout. The 1st Test at Christchurch ended in a draw, but New Zealand had already built a platform that their opponents could not sustain.

1955-56 Tour Details

West Indies’ best chance came during their 1955-56 tour, when they pushed New Zealand close in what was then only the host nation’s second Test series. That remains their strongest showing on New Zealand pitches, with every subsequent visit producing similar outcomes.

Recent Series Outcomes

More recent tours have followed the same script. West Indies arrived with promising talent but found New Zealand’s pitches, pace attack, and clinical batting too much to handle. The 2025-26 whitewash by a 2-0 margin, including a 323-run win in the decider, marks one of their most comprehensive defeats on these shores.

West Indies must address structural gaps in their red-ball preparation, or this pattern will persist whenever they tour New Zealand.

Who is the best NZ cricket player?

Kane Williamson enters this discussion as one of New Zealand’s all-time greats, but Devon Conway stole the show in this particular series. Conway amassed 452 runs across the three Tests, anchoring New Zealand’s innings at critical moments and converting starts into match-defining contributions. His performances made him the obvious choice for the series’ standout performer.

Kane Williamson Achievements

Williamson brought 8,000-plus Test runs and a calm head to the middle order. His 37 from 46 balls in the 2nd Test helped New Zealand build a platform that their bowlers could exploit. Williamson’s presence gave the line-up stability and experience that proved invaluable across the series.

Current Form in Series

In the 2nd Test, Williamson’s 37 came at a strike rate that kept the scoreboard ticking while protecting early wickets. His role shifted between consolidation and acceleration depending on the match situation, a versatility that has defined his 14-year Test career.

Conway’s 452 runs validate his selection over Williamson for series-defining impact, though both players remain central to New Zealand’s red-ball plans.

New Zealand vs West Indies 1st Test Scorecard

The 1st Test at Christchurch set the tone for the series. West Indies posted 466/8 declared, with the fall of the first wicket coming at 84 after 26.6 overs from Devon Conway. Shai Hope and Tagenarine Chanderpaul both scored fifties, but the innings stalled at that point as no other batter made a substantial contribution. New Zealand were already 64 runs ahead when the tourists declared, and a 5th wicket partnership of 150 runs between Hope and JP Greaves briefly threatened to shift momentum. However, dropped catches haunted West Indies throughout, and New Zealand capitalized by building a 481-run lead that effectively decided the match by the third day.

Batting Summary

West Indies reached 250 runs in 81.5 overs, with the new ball taken at 80.1 overs. The scoring rate of 4.27 runs per over reflected their caution after losing early wickets. The ESPNcricinfo match report noted that “dropped catches haunted West Indies as New Zealand took a 481-run lead on the third day” — a costly lapse that turned the match decisively in the hosts’ favour.

Bowling Figures

New Zealand’s bowlers exploited the pressure created by their batters, with the attack keeping West Indies contained despite the tourists’ solid start. The catching lapses from the fielding side compounded West Indies’ problems, handing New Zealand extra overs and momentum heading into the second innings.

The 481-run lead exposed how severely West Indies’ fielding lapses can cost them against quality opponents.

NZ vs WI 2nd Test Scorecard

The 2nd Test at Basin Reserve in Wellington delivered New Zealand’s most clinical performance. After winning the toss and electing to field first, New Zealand bundled West Indies out for 205 in 75 overs. Their own first innings produced 278/9 declared, with New Zealand reaching 50 runs in just 9.5 overs to signal their aggressive intent. In reply, West Indies managed only 128/10 in 46.2 overs, and New Zealand chased down a target of 56 in just 10 overs to win by 9 wickets.

Partnership Highlights

The 2nd Test featured several crucial partnerships, though none larger than the one that built New Zealand’s commanding position. West Indies showed resilience at times, reaching 50 runs in 16.6 overs and 100 in 39.5 overs in their second innings, but ultimately could not sustain their resistance against the New Zealand attack.

Toss and Innings

New Zealand’s decision to field first proved immediately vindicated. The pitch offered movement early, and the bowlers exploited the conditions ruthlessly. Devon Conway contributed 24 from 38 balls and later added 27 from 59, while Williamson’s 37 from 46 kept the scoreboard active at a crucial juncture.

The 9-wicket margin masked how comfortably New Zealand controlled every phase of this match.

New Zealand vs West Indies 3rd Test Scorecard

The series finale at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui produced the most dominant display of the tour. New Zealand posted 575/8 declared in their first innings — the highest total of the series — and West Indies replied with 420. New Zealand’s second innings of 306/2 declared set West Indies an improbable target of 462. The tourists were bundled out for just 138, handing New Zealand a 323-run win and sealing a 2-0 series victory.

Final Innings Scores

The contrasting scores told the story. New Zealand’s 575/8 reflected dominant batting across the order, while West Indies’ 138 in their second innings exposed the gap between the two sides. According to Cricket.com.au, New Zealand thrashed West Indies to seal the series win with a comprehensive performance.

Series Victory Margin

The 323-run margin ranks among New Zealand’s most emphatic Test victories in recent years. The combination of a massive first-innings total and a disciplined bowling display on a wearing pitch created an unassailable position that West Indies never threatened to overhaul.

The 323-run margin demonstrated how New Zealand’s batting depth can overwhelm opponents even when pitches begin to deteriorate.

“Shai Hope and Tagenarine Chanderpaul scored fifties, but no other batter made a big contribution as West Indies fell 64 behind.”

— ESPNcricinfo Match Summary

“Dropped catches haunted West Indies as New Zealand took a 481-run lead on the third day of a Test.”

— ESPNcricinfo Match Report

West Indies must raise their fielding standards substantially, or match-turning opportunities will continue to vanish against quality opposition. New Zealand head into their next assignment with a settled combination and a bowling attack that exploited home conditions to devastating effect. The scorecards from this tour offer both teams a template — West Indies can study what went wrong, while New Zealand can replicate what worked.