New Zealand Sweeps West Indies 3-0 in ODI Series with Dominant 4-Wicket Win at Seddon Park
On a crisp November evening at Seddon Park in Hamilton, New Zealand wrapped up a crushing 3-0 ODI series sweep over the West Indies with a four-wicket victory — and they did it with time to spare. The final match, played on the third ODI of the West Indies Tour of New Zealand 2025Seddon Park, ended not with a bang, but with a yawn — the kind that follows when a team has been outclassed for three straight games. West Indies, bowled out for a pitiful 161 in 36.2 overs, never looked like they belonged on the same field as the Black Caps. And when Matt Henry took 4 for 43, earning Player of the Match, it was less a performance and more a statement: This is how you dominate at home.
How West Indies Crumbled Before the First Powerplay Ended
It didn’t take long for the cracks to show. West Indies, after winning the toss and choosing to bat, lost their first wicket at 25. By the seventh over, they were 27-2. By the 11th, 32-3. The collapse wasn’t dramatic — no sixes, no spectacular catches — just relentless, quiet pressure. Every time a batsman looked like he might settle, a delivery found the edge or the pad. Matt Henry was surgical, swinging the ball both ways, while Kyle Jamieson added pace and bounce, finishing with 3 wickets for 46 runs. The West Indies middle order, so often their saving grace, vanished like mist. Devon Conway’s 38 off 52 balls was the only half-century of the innings — and he wasn’t even playing for them. For West Indies, it was the third straight time they’d been bowled out under 170 in this series. 161 and not enough runs — that phrase, repeated by Sony Sports Network commentators, wasn’t just a quote. It was an epitaph.New Zealand’s Chase Was a Masterclass in Controlled Calm
The chase? It wasn’t a chase at all. It was a clinic. Glenn Phillips, calm as a man watering his lawn, took control with a blistering 75 off just 48 balls — 10 fours, 4 sixes, zero panic. Mark Chapman (37 off 23) and Michael Bracewell (36 off 25) added the kind of acceleration that made the target feel like a suggestion, not a target. When Zak Foulkes, the last man in, stepped out to hit the winning runs, he didn’t look like he was sealing a victory. He looked like he was finishing a job. New Zealand reached 162 in 30.3 overs — with 117 balls left. That’s nearly 20 overs to spare. The crowd didn’t erupt. They smiled. They knew this was inevitable.
Why This Series Loss Hurts More Than the Score Suggests
This wasn’t just a loss. It was a pattern. West Indies lost by 6 wickets in the first ODI, by 8 wickets in the second. Now, by four — and still with 20 overs to spare. Their batting has been the problem, yes, but it’s deeper than that. Their captain, Kraigg Brathwaite, has been visibly out of sorts. Their spinners, usually their strength, were carved up. And their pace attack? Seales (2/35 in 8 overs) and Forde (1/16 in 4) were the only ones who showed fight. The rest? Ineffective. The commentary team kept circling back to one truth: They haven’t posted a total over 170 in the entire series. That’s not bad luck. That’s a systemic failure.Compare this to August 2022, when New Zealand toured the Caribbean and won two ODIs by margins of 46 runs and 51 runs — both times with West Indies posting over 300. The roles have reversed. Now, it’s the visitors who look lost. The T20 series before this one ended the same way — three straight losses, three low scores. This isn’t a bad tour. It’s a collapse.
Seddon Park: New Zealand’s Fortress
Seddon Park has become a graveyard for touring teams. In the last five ODI series played here, New Zealand has won all 15 matches. The pitch, slightly slow, favors swing and seam — perfect for Henry and Jamieson. The crowd? Loyal, loud, and unrelenting. When the final ball was bowled, the scoreboard didn’t just read ‘New Zealand won.’ It screamed: Home advantage isn’t a bonus. It’s a weapon. And right now, no team in world cricket wields it better.
What’s Next? The Real Test Begins
For New Zealand, this sweep is a confidence booster ahead of next year’s World Cup. They’ve found form in their top order, their bowling attack is firing, and their fielding — sharp as ever. But the real question isn’t whether they can win at home. It’s whether they can win away. Their next assignment? A three-match ODI series in South Africa in February. That’s where the real test begins.For West Indies? The road back starts with introspection. Their batting order is a mystery. Their leadership lacks spark. And their youth — players like Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph — need to be given room to breathe, not thrown into the fire against the world’s best. They’ll need more than talent. They’ll need a reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did West Indies struggle so badly in this series?
West Indies’ batting collapsed in every match, failing to post a total over 170 in any of the three ODIs. Their top order couldn’t handle New Zealand’s swing and seam, and their middle order lacked aggression. In contrast, they’ve averaged over 280 in home ODIs since 2020. This wasn’t bad luck — it was a breakdown in technique and mindset under pressure.
How significant is Matt Henry’s performance in this series?
Matt Henry took 11 wickets across the three ODIs at an average of 14.36 and an economy rate of 4.12. His ability to swing the ball late, especially in the powerplay and death overs, made him the most consistent threat. He’s now New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs since 2023 and is emerging as a key World Cup asset.
Has New Zealand ever swept a three-match ODI series against West Indies before?
Yes — but only once before, in 2010 in Christchurch. This is only the second time in 18 years New Zealand has swept a three-match ODI series against West Indies. Their dominance in Hamilton is even rarer: they’ve now won 15 consecutive ODIs at Seddon Park since 2018, the longest such streak at any ground in international cricket.
What does this mean for West Indies’ World Cup prospects?
It’s a major red flag. West Indies haven’t won an ODI outside the Caribbean since June 2024. Their batting average away from home has dropped to 208 — well below the 260+ needed to compete in the World Cup. Without a radical overhaul in their top-order discipline and mental resilience, their chances of advancing past the group stage are slim.
Why is Seddon Park so tough for visiting teams?
The pitch at Seddon Park is known for its early swing and consistent seam movement, especially under night conditions. The outfield is slow, which reduces scoring rates and rewards disciplined bowling. New Zealand’s players know its quirks intimately — and touring sides, especially from the Caribbean, rarely adapt quickly enough.
What’s the historical context of New Zealand vs. West Indies ODIs?
Since 2010, New Zealand has won 12 of the last 15 ODIs against West Indies, including the 2022 tour where they won both matches by over 40 runs. West Indies’ last ODI win over New Zealand came in 2019 in Bridgetown. Since then, they’ve lost 10 straight — and six of those were by margins of 100+ runs.
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