Windies turn to Brathwaite for salvation

Wellington – The West Indies put their faith in Kraigg Brathwaite to save the first Test against New Zealand as the gritty opening batsman pulled the tourists back into the match in Wellington yesterday.

After starting their second innings with a deficit of 368, by stumps it had been reduced to 172 as the Calypso cricketers clocked off for the day at 214/2.

Opener Brathwaite, with a seventh century in his sights, was on 79 with Shai Hope on 21.

The Basin Reserve wicket has flattened out and lost the green- ness that saw 19 wickets fall in the first two days.

The only wickets on day three were the West Indies’ Keith Powell (40) and Shimron Hetmyer (66) after New Zealand resumed the day at 447/9 and declared at 520, still with a wicket in hand, and with debutant Tom Blundell unbeaten on 107.

Matt Henry took the two wickets for an economical 33 runs while Neil Wagner, the first innings destroyer, kept the batsmen ducking and weaving but was expensive at 0/89.

While the West Indies faced a monumental task to save the Test, Brathwaite has the memory of the West Indies’ last tour of New Zealand to know it is not impossible.

In the first Test on the 2013 tour they were 396 in arrears when forced to follow on.

A Marlon Samuels double century took them to 507 in their second innings on the fifth day and New Zealand ran out of time chasing a target of 112 to win.

However, there were signs in the final hour that the wicket was starting to take turn which would put more focus on spinners for the remainder of the game.