The Prague Post - Duffy, Patel force West Indies collapse as NZ close in on Test series win

The tourists collapsed before and after lunch to be 138-8 at tea, losing eight wickets for just 25 runs after an opening stand of 87 had raised hopes of resistance.

At the break, Tevin Imlach was 15 not out and Anderson Phillip at 10.

The series began with a draw in Christchurch, before New Zealand won the second in Wellington.

On a cracked surface offering uneven movement and bounce, seamer Jacob Duffy and spinner Ajaz Patel posed constant danger to both edges of the bat.

West Indies were 99-5 at lunch and their slide continued immediately after the resumption.

Duffy had Roston Chase caught off the gloves by Tom Latham at slip for five, capping a miserable series for the West Indies captain.

Chase scored just 42 runs at an average of seven in three matches, the second worst figures for a skipper dismissed six or more times in a Test series.

Patel claimed Shai Hope's wicket for three from 78 balls after a controversial lbw review. Having not played a shot, the ball was deemed to be hitting Hope's foot on the full and going on to hit the stumps.

Glenn Phillips then took his first wicket of the match, bowling a hobbled Kemar Roach for four, who is nursing a hamstring strain.

At tea, Duffy returned figures of 4-42, and Patel 3-23.

The visitors started the day 43-0, with Brandon King on 37 and John Campbell on two.

King dominated early, hitting a flurry of cuts and drives and scoring 53 of the teams first 59 runs.

Initially, New Zealand captain Tom Latham's fields lacked aggression on a pitch that looked increasingly difficult to bat on, but that changed after the drinks break.

Duffy broke the opening stand at 87, King gloving a rising delivery to Glenn Phillips at gully for 67.

Patel struck in the next over, removing Campbell for 16 after a rash attempt to slog down the ground. Phillips then took another good catch in the deep.

Patel claimed another soon after, first-innings centurion Kavem Hodge falling for a duck with Rachin Ravindra taking a catch at silly square leg.

Hodge's preparation before the match was hampered by a series of poor throwdowns dished out by a coaching assistant, with head coach Daren Sammy stepping in.

Duffy then dismissed Alick Athanaze for two and Justin Greaves for nought in successive overs, leaving the West Indies reeling.

Duffy struck again two overs later, with Alick Athanaze edging to keeper Tom Blundell for 2, before removing Justin Greaves for nought with an edge to Daryl Mitchell at slip.

G.Kucera--TPP