Kiwis storm to innings win over West Indies
wellington — Fortune favoured New Zealand, according to captain Kane Williamson after they cleaned up the first Test against the West Indies by an innings and 67 runs on day four in Wellington on Monday.
The West Indies collapsed spectacularly in their second innings to be all out for 319.
After a strong start, when they reached 231 for two, they lost their last eight wickets for 88 runs as they chased a monumental 386 to make New Zealand bat again.
But the real damage was done when Williamson won the toss and made the West Indies bat first on a green surface.
They were rolled for 134 and as the pitch flattened out New Zealand took charge with a monumental 520 for nine declared.
“I thought in the first innings we were fairly fortunate as well as bowling very well in exploiting the bounce in the surface,” Williamson said.
“So we knew in the second innings, when the wicket became a little flatter, it was going to be a tough job to bowl them out.
“I thought the bowlers were exceptional to change their type of thought to play the long game, be patient with the way they operated and we saw the rewards in the second session today.”
After resuming Monday at 214 for two, needing a further 172 runs to make New Zealand bat again, the West Indies innings unravelled when Kraigg Brathwaite went for 91. —