NZ vs WI Today’s Match Prediction & Cricket Betting Tips: West Indies Tour of New Zealand 2025 Test Series, 3rd Test, December 18

West Indies’s final game on their tour to New Zealand is all set to take place at Mount Maunganui in Bay Oval, Tauranga. We are talking about the third and final Test of the three-match series slated to take place on December 18. The first ended in a draw, whereas the second was won by New Zealand by 9 wickets. In this post, we have come up with free expert tips for the 3rd Test Match, NZ vs WI at Mount Maunganui in Bay Oval.

Win Probability: NZ vs WI

This tour has been nothing short of a nightmare for the West Indies. In the entire tour across formats, West Indies has managed to win a solitary game, the first game of the tour, which was a T20I. Apart from that game, West Indies has failed miserably in this entire tour and once again will be under the pump to win this fixture. Expect the win probability meter to lean in favor of the hosts. Let’s continue with the post and find out the best cricket tips for the 3rd Test Match, NZ vs WI at Mount Maunganui in Bay Oval.

WI: 17% win chance
NZ: 83% win chance

New Zealand has now won 4 of their last 5 Tests including a draw.
West Indies is yet to win a Test in this WTC cycle.
They have lost 9 of their last 10 Test matches along with a draw.
In the last 5 meetings between these two sides, New Zealand has won 4 Tests, whereas one match ended in a draw.

Cricket Betting Tips for WI vs NZ- 3rd Test

Shai Hope to score Over 24.5 in 1st Innings

A century in the opening Test followed by a 48 in the second, Shai Hope has looked like the most influential batter in this tour for the West Indies. Expect him to be among runs again.

Place Bet @ Odds 1.85 »

Rachin Ravindra to score Over 33.5 in 1st Innings

The left-hander had a terrific first test match, as he scored a magnificent ton in the second innings. In his last 10 Test matches, Ravindra has accumulated 736 runs at an average of 49.07.

Place Bet @ Odds 1.85 »

Tom Latham to score Over 26.5 in 1st Innings

The Blackcaps skipper has scored 189 runs in 4 innings in this Test series at a terrific average of 47.25. Expect the left-hander to be a crucial cog in the hosts' batting lineup at the top.

Place Bet @ Odds 1.85 »

Kane Williamson to score Over 34.5 in 1st Innings

Kane Williamson's impact in this series hasn't been great, as he has scored only a solitary fifty in the 4 innings thus far. However, he still remains a threat, going by the reputation he carries in this format.

Place Bet @ Odds 1.85 »

NZ vs WI Today’s Match Prediction

Check out our prediction for the WI vs NZ 3rd Test match at Mount Maunganui in Bay Oval.

New Zealand Will Look to make it two in two

New Zealand will look to make it two in two as they prepare for the third and final Test against West Indies at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, starting December 18. The hosts currently lead the series 1-0 after a commanding nine-wicket victory in the second Test, following a hard-fought draw in the opener. With momentum firmly on their side, the Black Caps will be eager to seal the series in style and give their fans a memorable finish to the home campaign.

Their batting unit has shown resilience, with contributions from the likes of Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra, and Devon Conway, while the pace bowlers have consistently delivered breakthroughs. The pace attack, spearheaded by Jacob Duffy, has kept the West Indies under pressure, and spinners have chipped in effectively on helpful surfaces. For the visitors, this match represents a final chance to salvage pride and level the series. They will need their batting to click collectively and their bowlers to find discipline against a confident New Zealand lineup.

With Bay Oval’s conditions expected to favor balanced cricket, the stage is set for an exciting finale. New Zealand will aim to capitalize on their momentum, while West Indies fight to avoid returning home empty-handed.

West Indies will look to level the series before returning home

West Indies will look to level the series before returning home as they prepare for the third and final Test against New Zealand at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, starting December 18. After the opening Test ended in a draw, the visitors suffered a heavy nine-wicket defeat in the second match, leaving them trailing 1-0 in the three-match series. This final encounter offers them a chance to restore pride and avoid heading back empty-handed.

For the West Indies, consistency has been their biggest challenge. In the batting unit, only Shai Hope has shown resilience, and Justin Greaves’ heroic knock in the first test was something to show in the otherwise failed batting performance. The bowlers, too, have lacked penetration against New Zealand’s disciplined batting unit. To level the series, the Caribbean side will need collective performances, top-order resilience, middle-order partnerships, and sharper execution with the ball.

Bay Oval’s conditions are expected to favor balanced cricket, with spinners likely to play a role as the match progresses. West Indies must adapt quickly and seize key moments if they are to challenge the hosts. A spirited fightback here could not only level the series but also boost their confidence ahead of future assignments. Let’s move ahead and check the cricket tips.

WI vs NZ Head-to-Head

Matches Played: 51
WI won: 13
NZ won: 18
Draw: 20
No Result: 0
RECENT form NEW ZEALAND: W W W D W
RECENT form WEST INDIES: L L L D L

In 51 meetings between the two sides, New Zealand has dominated West Indies in head-to-head battles by winning 18 games. West Indies has managed to win 13, whereas 20 matches ended up in a draw.

Team Analysis: New Zealand vs West Indies

How will the two teams, i.e., New Zealand vs West Indies, fare in the third Test in Bay Oval? Let’s take a look.

New Zealand (NZ)

The Blackcaps have made some wholesome changes in their squad after most of the players unavailable due to injuries.
Wicket-keeper batter Tom Blundell is back after missing out on the last game due to a hamstring tear. With Blundell’s return, Mitchell Hay, who made his Test debut in Blundell’s absence, has been released from the squad to play domestic cricket.
Along with Blundell, left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel has also returned to the Blackcaps group and is in line to play his first home Test in more than five years.
The wicket in Bay Oval will suit spinners and Patyel might get a nod in here.
Fast bowler Blair Tickner, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in Wellington, is out of the squad. Patel will most probably fill in for Tickner.
Rest of the eleven is expected to remain the same.

Expected Starting 11

Tom Latham (C), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (WK), Glenn Phillips/Michael Bracewell, Zakary Foulkes, Ajaz Patel, Michael Rae, Jacob Duffy

West Indies (WI)

With the surface expected to assist spinners, Jomel Warrican could be in line to get his first game on this tour.
Either Ojay Shields or Anderson Phillip could make way for Warrican.
The batting lineup, more or less, is expected to remain untouched.

Expected Starting 11

John Campbell, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge/Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope, Roston Chase (C), Tevin Imlach (WK), Justin Greaves, Ojay Shields/Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Jayden Seales

Weather Conditions and Pitch Report

Here’s the pitch and weather report for the 3rd Test between New Zealand and West Indies at Mount Maunganui, Bay Oval:

Pitch Report (Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui)	Weather Report (Mount Maunganui, Dec 18–22, 2025)
Fresh grass on the surface provides ideal conditions for pace and bounce in the opening sessions.	Weather is forecast to be mild and pleasant, with daytime highs around 23–25°C.
Fast bowlers can exploit early moisture for swing, while seamers will find movement off the pitch.	Skies are expected to be partly cloudy, offering comfortable playing conditions.
As the match progresses, the pitch tends to slow down, bringing spinners into play from Day 3 onwards.	Only a slight chance of showers is predicted, unlikely to cause major interruptions.
Batting becomes easier once the shine wears off, but patience is key against the moving ball.	Winds will be light, ensuring stable conditions for both batting and bowling.
Teams winning the toss often prefer to bat first, aiming to post a strong total before deterioration.	Overall, weather looks favorable for a full five-day contest.

Toss Prediction

At Bay Oval, the toss will be decisive. The team winning it is likely to bat first, aiming to post a strong total before the pitch slows down for spinners. However, with early swing on offer, captains may also consider bowling first to exploit morning conditions.

Where to Watch Today’s Match

The online live streaming of the 3rd Test match of the West Indies Tour of New Zealand will take place live on the SonyLiv App and Amazon Prime App. TV viewers can watch this series live on Sony Sports Channels.

NZ vs WI: Today’s Match Predictions

West Indies have been shattered with a 9-wicket loss to New Zealand in the previous Test match. The team is out of confidence. On the other side, the hosts are brimming with confidence. A series wrap with 2-0 reflecting on the WTC table would be a great thing for the Blackcaps, and they won’t leave any stone unturned to achieve the same. Therefore, as per our prediction, the hosts, New Zealand, are expected to win the NZ vs WI 3rd Test match and take the series 2-0.

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