Kiwis take handy first-innings lead after poor WI batting display as they were shot out for a paltry score of 167.
Jacob Duffy’s maiden five-wicket haul in Tests has given the Kiwis an advantage on the second day of the first Test against West Indies in Christchurch. As the West Indies collapsed for 167 in reaction to New Zealand’s first-innings total of 231, Matt Henry also contributed a three-for.
This notwithstanding New Zealand surrendering four catches, three of those off Henry, along with giving away 28 extras. For West Indies, Shai Hope and Tagenarine Chanderpaul struck half-centuries but just two others reached double-digits. At stumps, New Zealand were 32 for no loss in their second innings, expanding their lead to 96.
Zak Foulkes edged Jayden Seales down the leg side as the West Indies claimed the final New Zealand wicket in the morning with just three deliveries. However, Foulkes struck with the first ball of the second over, costing them an early wicket. He bowled around the wicket, causing John Campbell to give him an outside edge. At third slip, Will Young collected the catch after diving to his left.
However, a few overs later, Young dropped a far easier chance when Henry got Alick Athanaze to edge one. But Henry’s denial was short-lived. In his following over, he got the ball to jag back in from around the wicket to make a mess of Athanaze’s stumps. The scoreboard continued to advance slowly for this entire time. West Indies were 10 for 2 after 12 overs.
Hope and Chanderpaul, nevertheless, hung around without caring about the scoring rate. Hope, batting with sunglasses due to an eye ailment, smashed Duffy through the covers in the 23rd over, setting up the first boundary of the West Indies’ innings. In the next over, he blasted Nathan Smith through mid-on for another boundary.
Meanwhile, Chanderpaul relished his good fortune. Devon Conway dropped him twice, on 5 and 24, both times due to leg slips, first from Smith’s bowling and then from Henry’s.
After lunch, Hope mentioned his fifty. New Zealand had to alter their strategy because Chanderpaul appeared to be at ease as well. Hope was bouncing around when Duffy went short against him. Once a short leg was deployed, Hope’s issues escalated. Tom Latham, who was keeping ahead of Tom Blundell, eventually gloved a short ball from around the wicket.
Once Duffy broke the 90-run stand, Henry returned to pick up two in one over. Bowling awayswingers right around off stump, he had Roston Chase and Justin Greaves caught behind for ducks, leaving West Indies on 106 for 5.
It didn’t effect Chanderpaul, though. He kept on in his slow fashion and brought up his half-century. When Conway eventually held onto a catch, he and Tevin Imlach’s partnership of 34 for the sixth wicket was broken.
Soon, it became dark enough that only spinners were allowed to bowl. But after a short rain break, the sky brightened up again. When play resumed, Duffy did not take long to mop up the remaining four wickets.