New Zealand races to massive victory

New Zealand’s bowlers catalysed a remarkable batting collapse after lunch on day four of the first Test, crushing Windies by an innings and 67 runs in Wellington on Monday (December 4).

Overnight 214 for 2 after trailing by 386 on the first innings at Basin Reserve, Windies lost its last five wickets for just 33 runs in nine overs when play resumed after the lunch break to be shot out for 319 and slip to an embarrassing defeat with nearly five sessions to spare.

When play got underway on the fourth morning, Windies’ hopes revolved around Kraigg Brathwaite, the opener who had offered staunch resistance while remaining undefeated on 79 at stumps on Sunday.

However, the right-hand batsman was the first batsman to depart, adding just 12 more runs before being trapped in front by a straight delivery from Mitchell Santner, the left-arm spinner. Brathwaite’s vigil lasted 221 deliveries – the most balls faced by any batsman in the game – and his fall ended a stand of 65 for the third wicket with Shai Hope.

The second new ball accounted for Hope (37) nine overs later when he edged Trent Boult, the left-arm paceman, to Kane Williamson at gully. Matt Henry rounded off a profitable morning for the host when he got rid of Roston Chase for 18, Windies going to lunch at 286 for 5.

Even though there were no demons of the sort in the surface that saw Windies bowled out for 134 on the first day, the visitor seemed to have lost the stomach for battle when Sunil Ambris was cleaned up off the first ball after the interval.

Ambris, the debutant who was out hit wicket off his first ball in Test cricket in the first innings, quickly reached 18, including a six off Boult, before being caught at first slip off Colin de Grandhomme.

Two runs later, Shane Dowrich (3) steered Neil Wagner to Santner at point. Wagner, who had precipitated the Windies collapse in the first innings with 7 for 39, then packed off Jason Holder, the captain, on his way to the Player of the Match award. While the profligate Wagner (2 for 102) was one of three bowlers to end up with two wickets, Henry was New Zealand’s most successful bowler, with 3 for 57 from 24 overs.

New Zealand had responded to Windies’ modest tally by posting 520 for 9 declared on the back of maiden centuries from de Grandhomme and Tom Blundell, the wicketkeeper-batsman.

The second Test starts at Seddon Park in Hamilton on December 9 with Tim Southee, the senior paceman, set to return to the playing 11 ahead of Henry.