WI dub de Grandhomme as New Zealand’s Chris Gayle

WELLINGTON: New Zealand were aiming for an early finish to the first Test against the West Indies after Colin de Grandhomme cracked his maiden Test century off just 71 balls to leave the tourists reeling at stumps on day two in Wellington on Saturday.

The West Indies compared de Grandhomme to their own whirlwind stars Chris Gayle and Andre Russell as the New Zealander smacked the ninth-fastest Test century of all time, making light of a tiring attack and plundering the boundary.

At stumps, New Zealand were 447 for nine, holding a 313-run lead after the West Indies were rolled for 134 in their first innings. “We’re in a real good position at the moment,” said de Grandhomme whose 105 included three sixes and 11 fours.

The Harare-born 31-year-old showed no sign of nerves as he plundered the bowling, saying the maiden century was not as important as keeping the West Indies in the field as long as possible.

“I know it’s a milestone but for me it’s just keep batting the way you’re going,” he said. “Because

I’d already got to 90 there’s not a big difference between 90 and 100 for me.”

Miguel Cummins, who claimed de Grandhomme’s wicket, was impressed. “Andre Russell hits the ball very hard, Chris Gayle hits the ball very hard. He’s up there,” Cummins said, admitting that their plans to shut him down did not work. Cummins, however, believed the tourists would perform better in their second innings. “The guys are really pumped up about batting again. They know where they fell down in the first innings and they’re looking to make amends in the second.”

Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls set the stage for New Zealand’s all-out attack with their 127run stand for the fourth wicket which led to de Grandhomme and Tom Blundell adding 148 for the seventh.

Brief scores (Stumps, Day 2): West Indies 1st innings 134. New Zealand 1st innings 447/9 in 127 overs (R Taylor 93, H Nicholls 67, C de Grandhomme 105, T Blundell batting 57).