Black Caps end Windies’ resistance
It required some lengthy toil second time around, but New Zealand eventually went 1-0 up in the twotest cricket series with an innings and 67-run win over West Indies in Wellington yesterday.
The Black Caps polished off the tourists for 319 in their second innings midway through day four at the Basin Reserve, when Trent Boult skittled Miguel Cummins. Matt Henry (3-57) had the most success of the New Zealand bowlers in the second innings.
It was hard work on a flat pitch offering little encouragement for the bowlers, and the Black Caps took 106 overs to complete the job, but with a first innings lead of 386 they had plenty of time and runs. They posted 520-9 declared in their first innings.
‘‘A superb effort all round ... it was a great test wicket with pace and bounce and not a lot of sideways movement but the boys got a lot out of it bowling that back of a length. Neil [Wagner] was outstanding in that first innings on a wicket that didn’t offer a lot for the seamers,’’ captain Kane Williamson said.
After an expensive start to his second innings, Wagner snared some late wickets to snare 9-141 for the match, his best return in test cricket, beating his 8-103 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last year. He was named man of the match.
It extended West Indies’ 22-year winning drought in New Zealand, and for the hosts their unbeaten record in November-december tests extended to 10. Their last prechristmas defeat at home was against Pakistan in 2009.
After New Zealand won the toss and skittled West Indies for 134, with Wagner taking 7-39, they were in front for much of the contest, except the final session on Sunday when West Indies batted their way to 214-2 at stumps.
After opener Kraigg Brathwaite was dismissed lbw by Mitchell Santner for 91 in 315 minutes it went downhill fast for the tourists.
When star batsman Shai Hope (37) was removed by Boult, caught at gully by Williamson, West Indies lost 4-31 either side of lunch.
It quickly got ugly for the visiting side who threw their wickets away after a stern fight had looked in prospect.
Last recognised batsmen Sunil Ambris and Shane Dowrich both departed in quick succession after the interval, both to poor shots, and the end was nigh.
There were a few stars for New Zealand with Wagner leading the way on day one, while allrounder Colin de Grandhomme blasted a 71-ball century - New Zealand’s second fastest - and Tom Blundell became the 11th New Zealand batsman to score a century on test debut.
Blundell looks likely to retain his spot in Saturday’s second test in Hamilton with incumbent BJ Watling still sidelined from keeping wicket due to a hip injury.
Senior swing bowler Tim Southee looks likely to be the only change, for Matt Henry, after Southee sat out this test to be at the birth of his second child. K Brathwaite lbw b Santner ........... 91 K Powell c and b Henry ................... 40 S Hetmeyer c Raval b Henry ........ 66 S Hope c Williamson b Boult ......... 37 R Chase b Henry ..................................... 18 S Ambris c Taylor b de Grandhomme ........................................... 18 S Dowrich c Santner b Wagner ...... 3 J Holder c Boult b Wagner ................ 7 K Roach lbw b de Grandhomme ..7 M Cummins b Boult ............................. 14 S Gabriel not out ...................................... 4 Extras (4b, 4lb, 6w) ........................ 14 Total (all out, 106 overs) ........ 319 Fall: 72, 166, 231, 257, 273, 286, 288, 301, 301, 319.
Bowling: T Boult 23-5-87-2, M Henry 24-6-57-3 (1w), C de Grandhomme 19-3-40-2, N Wagner 22-3-102-2 (5w), M Santner 17-7-25-1, K Williamson 1-1-0-0.
New Zealand won by an innings and 67 runs, lead twomatch series 1-0.