Day three: West Indies 193 (Kirk Edwards 55; Trent Boult 40-6) & 175 (f/o) (Kieron Powell 36; Trent Boult 4-40), BLACKCAPS 441 all out (Taylor 129, Watling 65; Tino Best 110-4)
BLACKCAPS win by an innings and 73 runs
Lead the series 1-0.
An extraordinary individual performance from Trent Boult has seen the BLACKCAPS brush past the West Indies by an innings and 73 runs on day three of the second ANZ Test at Hawkins Basin Reserve.
The 23 year-old was the driving force behind the BLACKCAPS going 1-0 up in the series, taking career best figures of ten for 80 and nabbing a sensational catch at a pivotal time.
Having resumed the day at 158 for four, the West Indies were bundled out for 193 in their first innings. Trailing by 248, Brendon McCullum made the tough choice to enforce the follow on - his decision was well and truly justified though, as they ripped through the West Indies again, dismissing them a second time for 175.
It was a fierce all-round display with the ball in the second innings, with Tim Southee (24-3) and Neil Wagner (67-2) setting the tone early on. The West Indies held out to 74 without loss, before Southee opened the floodgates in the 25th over with the dismissal of Kieron Powell.
Man of the match Boult was once again chief wicket-taker though with figures of four for 40, including the final two scalps to snare his first ten-wicket bag. Arguably his biggest highlight of the day though came while fielding at point, snatching the ball out of the air with one hand while in full flight to dismiss Dinesh Ramdin (19).
By his own admission, Boult before the innings felt that he was yet to perform a highlight worthy moment in the field. That no longer stands, admitting afterwards that the catch felt ‘surreal’.
After 54.5 overs in the second innings, Boult fittingly ended proceedings when he knocked back the stumps of Shannon Gabriel. The ecstasy from the BLACKCAPS was evident, with Boult raising the match ball to the applause of the Wellington crowd.
Boult had started his heroics in the 45th over of the first-innings when some late swing drew the edge from Narsingh Deonarine (22). It set the tone for what would be a truly destructive spell.
The final five wickets fell for 18 runs, with Boult clean bowling four of them – every ball was asking questions. Southee then had the last say of the innings when he bowled Gabriel, allowing McCullum the luxury of the follow on.
The rest, as they say, is history.
A total of 16 West Indies wickets fell on the day, with Boult responsible nine of them. Career best figures, a brilliant catch and an easily forgotten but important knock of 38 not out with the bat capped off one heck of a performance.
Three day Tests are rare - BLACKCAPS fans, you’ll have to settle for The Ashes over the weekend.
Third Test begins in Hamilton on Thursday.
Day two: BLACKCAPS 441 all out (BJ Watling 65, Trent Boult 38*, Tino Best 4-110) lead West Indies 158-4 (Marlon Samuels 50*, Kirk Edwards 55, Corey Anderson 2-20) by 283 runs.
Despite some interference from the rain, the BLACKCAPS managed to put themselves in pole position on day two of the second ANZ Test against the West Indies at Hawkins Basin Reserve.
Having resumed at 307 for six, the BLACKCAPS lower-order proved stubborn at the start of play, pushing on to make 441. In reply, the West Indies got through to 158 for four and trail the BLACKCAPS by 283 runs heading into day three.
Openers Kieron Powell (21) Kirk Edwards (55) negated the new ball well initially, seeing their side through to 46 without loss. Their stand ended when Tim Southee managed to trap Powell lbw in the 15th over, with the batsman then unsuccessfully asking for a review.
A big moment followed soon after when Corey Anderson found the edge of last match’s double centurion Darren Bravo (4). Anderson continued to be amongst the action, next capturing the wicket of Edwards and then taking a sharp catch at point off the bowling of Trent Boult to help dismiss Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Playing his 50th test, Marlon Samuels (50*) managed to steady the ship for the West Indies, helping see his side through to the end of the day without any further loss. He and Narsingh Deonarine will resume in the middle tomorrow morning at 10am.
Earlier BJ Watling (69) had anchored the BLACKCAPS tail to a score in excess of 400. The 27-year-old was particularly effective through the point region and looked comfortable against the West Indies bowling attack.
Following useful cameo from Southee (21) and Ish Sodhi (27), Watling teamed up with Boult (38*) to put on a record 58 run partnership against the West Indies for the last wicket.
Tino Best was once again the pick of the West Indies bowlers, finishing with four for 110 from 21 overs.
Day one: BLACKCAPS 307-6 (Ross Taylor 129, Kane Williamson 45, Corey Anderson 38, Tino Best 2-66)
Ross Taylor continued his dominant form against the West Indies in the second Test at Hawkins Basin Reserve today, constructing a magnificent 129 to put the BLACKCAPS in a solid position heading into day two.
The knock brought up the 29-year-old’s tenth Test century, with the effort coming from 227 balls. It took a sensational catch from Shane Shillingford to end his onslaught, departing in the third to last over of the day.
Having lost the toss, the BLACKCAPS were asked to bat first on what was predicted to be a bowler's wicket. Taylor, alongside a number of helpful cameo performances, ensured that they’d have a respectable first-innings total to defend, with the hosts reaching 307-6.
Earlier, the BLACKCAPS innings had gotten off to a bumpy start when Peter Fulton survived being given out lbw from the first ball of the match before a DRS review saved his wicket. Both Fulton (6) and Hamish Rutherford (11) were dismissed cheaply, reducing the home side to 25 for two.
That saw last match’s double centurion Ross Taylor and the returning Kane Williamson come together in the middle. Under pressure to steady the ship, the pair responded by putting on an 88 run stand for the third wicket.
Williamson was the first to go, caught in the gully just after lunch. The momentum stayed with the BLACKCAPS though, as skipper Brendon McCullum came to the crease and looked comfortable from ball one.
Between he and Taylor, the BLACKCAPS went to tea at 186 for three. However, McCullum was gone soon after the break and a rebuilding phase ensued. It became obvious once Corey Anderson had found his feet though, slamming a pair of sixes and three fours in a belligerent knock of 38.
Soon after Taylor’s dismissal, and subsequent standing ovation from the Wellington crowd, the BLACKCAPS brought up 300 runs. With four wickets in hand they’ll feel they had the better of day one and will look to add as many as possible tomorrow before taking the swinging ball.
The wickets amongst the West Indies were shared, though Tino best led with two scalps in his 14 overs for 66 runs.
Day two action begins from 10.30am tomorrow morning.
Photos: www.photosport.co.nz
