Windies crash to innings loss

– Fortune favoured New Zealand, according to captain Kane Williamson (above) after they cleaned up the first Test against the West Indies by an innings and 67 runs on day four yesterday.

The West Indies collapsed spectacularly in their second innings to be all out for 319. After a strong start, when they reached 231/2, 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 520/9 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.

“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 at 214/2, needing a further 172 runs to make New Zealand bat again, the West Indies innings unravelled when Kraigg Brathwaite went for 91.

If was the first of three wickets before lunch and the last five fell for just 33 runs in nine overs after the interval.

But captain Jason Holder rejected suggestions they had caved in, saying the plan was to play positively.

“We said there were two days left and we had to knock off the deficit and the only way to do that was staying positive. I don’t think anyone was reckless at any stage,” he said. – AFP