The third Test at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui looms as the series decider new zealand And west indiesThe host team has taken a 1-0 lead after a draw in the first Test and a spectacular nine-wicket win in the second Test in Wellington.
led the temporary invasion of New Zealand jacob duffyMatch-winning 5/38, bowled out West Indies for 128 in their second innings, while devon conway And kane williamson The chase raced to a modest one, underscoring Kiwi dominance in seam-friendly conditions. West Indies, captained by Roston Chasestumbled despite shy hope‘s resistance, now desperate to level the series and save further glory 2027 world test championship Qualifier.
Tom LathamNew Zealand, supported by Conway, Williamson, Rachin Ravindraand spinner Ajaz Patel And Michael BracewellEyeing clean sweep as West Indies bank on hope, chase and seamers Kemar Roach, jaden seals A rare Tauranga upset – their first Test win in New Zealand since 1995.
Mount Maunganui weather forecast for the third test
day 1
Day 1 sets up ideal conditions for the start of a full swing day with a pleasant 22°C, a low of 14°C and only a 25% risk of rain, meaning minimal interruptions but enough of a westerly wind at 19 km/h to aid swing and make the first session difficult for the openers. In actual practice at 22° and with good sunny windows, the ball should seam for the first hour before flattening out, encouraging captains to bat first while the bowlers are interested in hitting the deck hard.
day 2
Day 2 temperatures hover around 22°C, with an overnight base of slightly higher 16°C and only 7% rainfall, suggesting uninterrupted play and bright skies later in the day, which will speed up drying and keep the surface good for batting. The steady westerly wind again helps carry the slip cordon, but with moderate UV, the pitch should cook sufficiently to accelerate run-scoring while the ball is soft.
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third day
The third day is moderately cool to 21°C/11°C, but is characterized by extreme UV (index 11) and a slightly stronger westerly at 22 km/h, effectively turning it into a classic dynamic day when the cracks start to open and the reverse swing potentially comes into play. Batting will still be beneficial for set players, yet a fresh spell with the old ball can give a lot of wickets.
day 4
Day 4 again remains around 22°C/10°C with only 3% rain and a brisk afternoon, so any drop will be pitch driven rather than weather driven, which is ideal for spinners hunting tough outside the right-handed batsman’s off stump. Limited sun and moderate UV means the surface is unlikely to break up dramatically, but variable bounce could come in and make fourth innings strokeplay dangerous.
day 5
Day 5 is expected to see a high of 21°C and a relatively warm 17°C at night with mostly cloudy skies, making conditions comfortable but a little humid as the finish line approaches. With only a 9% rain risk and light winds of 17 km/h, a full day’s play should be possible, setting up a real possibility of a result on day five if either side is forced to follow on or chase a tricky score on a pristine surface that is good enough for both spin and disciplined seaming.
