WI VS. NZ. 2nd Test, June 16-20, QPO, POS, Trinidad & Tobago

[socafighter]

Tom Latham was caught off a delivery that bounce



End of over 46 (maiden) New Zealand 77/1

KS Williamson 38 (136b 5x4 0x6)
TWM Latham 34 (124b 5x4 0x6)

SJ Benn 16-8-17-0
JE Taylor 12-5-19-1


49.3
Benn to Latham, OUT, Benn has produced one of the nine deliveries West Indies need. This is short of a length, and explodes from the rough, towards Latham's chest. It is turning in towards off so he has to play at it. And it lobs off the glove, it seems. Latham has walked although I will be interested in seeing if the ball hit the glove strap or his arm
TWM Latham c Brathwaite b Benn 36 (195m 138b 5x4 0x6) SR: 26.08


End of over 50 (3 runs) New Zealand 84/2

LRPL Taylor 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)
KS Williamson 43 (143b 5x4 0x6)

SJ Benn 18-8-22-1
JE Taylor 14-5-21-1



End of over 54 (1 run) New Zealand 94/2

LRPL Taylor 6 (17b 1x4 0x6)
KS Williamson 47 (153b 5x4 0x6)

SJ Benn 20-8-26-1
KAJ Roach 8-4-15-0


End of over 57 (maiden) New Zealand 96/2

KS Williamson 49 (165b 5x4 0x6)
LRPL Taylor 6 (23b 1x4 0x6)

KAJ Roach 10-5-17-0
SJ Benn 21-9-26-1

[socafighter]

Kane Williamson drives, West Indies v New Zealand


End of over 60 (1 run) New Zealand 108/2

LRPL Taylor 15 (33b 3x4 0x6)
KS Williamson 52 (173b 5x4 0x6)

SJ Benn 23-9-33-1
KAJ Roach 11-5-22-0


60.5
Roach to Williamson, OUTlovely bowling from Roach. West Indies have largely kept New Zealand honest with their discipline and with their effort on this flat pitch. Slightly short of a length, slightly wide, Williamson reaches outside his body's line to feel for it. The ball holds its line, takes the edge, and Ramdin pouches. Huge celebration from Gayle and Ramdin. They reckon this is the big wicket
KS Williamson c †Ramdin b Roach 52 (178b 5x4 0x6) SR: 29.21


End of over 61 (wicket maiden) New Zealand 108/3

JDS Neesham 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)
LRPL Taylor 15 (33b 3x4 0x6)

KAJ Roach 12-6-22-1
SJ Benn 23-9-33-1

[socafighter]

Ross Taylor goes back to cut, West Indies v New Zealand


End of over 66 (4 runs) New Zealand 121/4

LRPL Taylor 20 (49b 3x4 0x6)
SJ Benn 26-9-41-2
CH Gayle 8-3-19-0



65.6
Benn to Neesham, OUT, oh boy. Is this the catch that won the match? West Indies well and truly on the home stretch now. An unbelievable return catch from Benn. Neesham is down the track to drive this well to Benn's right, but lithely - for a man Benn's height - Benn goes to his right, and uses his long right arm to pluck this. And gets up coolly as if he has taken a regulation catch. Absolutely superb from Benn
JDS Neesham c & b Benn 7 (22m 15b 1x4 0x6) SR: 46.66



End of over 65 (maiden) New Zealand 117/3

LRPL Taylor 17 (47b 3x4 0x6)
JDS Neesham 6 (11b 1x4 0x6)
CH Gayle 8-3-19-0
SJ Benn 25-9-37-1

[socafighter]

12.02pm A very good session for West Indies comes to an end. It is not just the result - three big wickets - but the effort they have put in and the discipline they have observed. This is a flat pitch, and needs all the hard work. West Indies have shown that all. Benn has removed left-hand batsmen Latham and Neesham - the latter with a stunning return catch - and Roach has accounted for Williamson. West Indies must be scenting the win now, but there is still some way to go.




Kemar Roach celebrates dismissing Kane Williamson, West Indies v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Trinidad, 4th day, June 19, 2014

End of over 67 (8 runs) New Zealand 129/4

LRPL Taylor 28 (55b 5x4 0x6)
BJ Watling 0 (0b 0x4 0x6)

KAJ Roach 14-6-34-1
SJ Benn 26-9-41-2


New Zealand 221 & 129/4 (67.0 ov)
West Indies 460

New Zealand trail by 110 runs with 6 wickets remaining

[socafighter]

The big Benn to start off after lunch

12.38 pm 110 ahead, West Indies looking very good to square the series today itself. However, they need another big effort from here on to seal this contest because the wickets won't come easily.


End of over 69 (4 runs) New Zealand 134/4

BJ Watling4 (11b 1x4)
LRPL Taylor28 (56b 5x4)

ST Gabriel6-1-16-0


End of over 75 (7 runs) New Zealand 151/4

BJ Watling10 (26b 2x4)
LRPL Taylor35 (77b 6x4)

ST Gabriel9-2-23-0
SJ Benn30-12-47-2



Sulieman Benn celebrates a wicket, West Indies v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Trinidad, 4th day, June 19, 2014


End of over 78 (maiden) New Zealand 152/4

LRPL Taylor36 (86b 6x4)
BJ Watling10 (35b 2x4)

SJ Benn32-14-47-2
ST Gabriel10-2-24-0


There is a massive cotton-ball of a cloud hanging over the ground.. It's grey.. it could be threatening.. Lots of bright areas around though..

78.4
Gabriel to Taylor, OUT, Gabriel's patience has paid off! Or it it Taylor's impatience? A mix of the two.. Length delivery outside off and Taylor goes for an ill-advised on-the-up drive - he was looking to belt the leather of this. He gets a thick outside edge en route to the keeper. The noise was loud, the noise was clear. Taylor reviews it in some faint hope.. Gabriel is miles behind the line, the edge is louder in the replay and Taylor has to go.. What a shot to play after all that hardwork! Eight balls to go for the new ball and Taylor has handed it in a platter to West Indies
LRPL Taylor c †Ramdin b Gabriel 36 (88b 6x4 0x6) SR: 40.90


End of over 79 (1 run) New Zealand 153/5

HD Rutherford0 (2b)
BJ Watling11 (37b 2x4)

ST Gabriel11-2-25-1
SJ Benn32-14-47-2

End of over 85 (maiden) New Zealand 165/5

BJ Watling15 (55b 2x4)
HD Rutherford7 (21b 1x4)

JE Taylor16-6-22-1
SJ Benn35-15-49-2

[socafighter]

End of over 88 (2 runs) New Zealand 176/5

BJ Watling 17 (63b 2x4 0x6)
HD Rutherford 13 (31b 2x4 0x6)

CH Gayle 9-3-20-0
JE Taylor 17-6-27-1


Now the bowlers.. West Indies still have a good buffer of 63 runs
88.3
Taylor to Rutherford, OUT, oh poor Rutherford! He decides not to drive finally, but this one is full and coming in with the angle from round the stumps. Rutherford shoulders arms to the wrong one - he didn't judge the line there at all.. it swung in too. The umpire lifts his finger - that was always going to go against Rutherford
HD Rutherford lbw b Taylor 13 (34b 2x4 0x6) SR: 38.23


New Zealand 179/6 (88.4 ov)


End of over 91 (2 runs) New Zealand 181/6

BJ Watling 18 (67b 2x4 0x6)
IS Sodhi 3 (11b 0x4 0x6)

JE Taylor 19-6-31-2
SJ Benn 37-16-51-2



End of over 91 (2 runs) New Zealand 181/6

BJ Watling 18 (67b 2x4 0x6)
IS Sodhi 3 (11b 0x4 0x6)

JE Taylor 19-6-31-2
SJ Benn 37-16-51-2


2.42 pm West indies have continued making inroads towards a big win here in Trinidad. Fifty one runs were scored, but more importantly, Ross Taylor and Hamish Rutherford were sent back. New Zealand still need to score another 58 runs to make West Indies bat again, but they don't have much left in the arsenal. A lot will depend on how long Watling survives. The writing though, as a feedbacker mentioned, is on the wall.


Its Tea....

[socafighter]

Jimmy Neesham was caught and bowled playing this shot, West Indies v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Trinidad, 4th day, June 19, 2014


Back after the break. Still no sign of the new ball..West Indies continue with spin, Big Benny to carry on


End of over 92 (1 run) New Zealand 182/6

BJ Watling 18 (70b 2x4 0x6)
IS Sodhi 4 (14b 0x4 0x6)

SJ Benn 38-16-52-2
JE Taylor 19-6-31-2



End of over 94 (maiden) New Zealand 188/6

BJ Watling 18 (76b 2x4 0x6)
IS Sodhi 10 (20b 1x4 0x6)

SJ Benn 39-17-52-2
JE Taylor 20-6-37-2


End of over 95 (4 runs) New Zealand 192/6

IS Sodhi 14 (26b 2x4 0x6)
BJ Watling 18 (76b 2x4 0x6)

JE Taylor 21-6-41-2
SJ Benn 39-17-52-2



95.5
Roach to Sodhi, OUT, there is the breakthrough and it's that short and wide delivery again! Sodhi looks for a cut again but this gets a little big on him, takes the top edge to the keeper. The new ball gets a wicket within two overs
IS Sodhi c †Ramdin b Roach 14 (30b 2x4 0x6) SR: 46.66


Southee replaces Sodhi
Three more to go for a West Indies win.


End of over 96 (1 run) New Zealand 193/7

TG Southee 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)
BJ Watling 19 (77b 2x4 0x6)

KAJ Roach 15-6-35-2
JE Taylor 21-6-41-2

[socafighter]

99.3
Roach to Southee, OUT, Edwards takes a screamer at cover! Southee's entertaining stay comes to an end. It was a full delivery on the stumps, Southee looks to play towards midwicket and gets a big leading edge to the off.. Edwards had to react and cover some ground too as it was getting away from him, but he holds on to it in style
TG Southee c Edwards b Roach 15 (12b 2x4 1x6) SR: 125.00


Mark Craig is the No. 10.. he didn't do much damage with the ball in this Test, can he make WI bat again?


End of over 100 (1 run) New Zealand 212/8

MD Craig 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)
BJ Watling 22 (87b 2x4 0x6)

KAJ Roach 17-6-40-3
ST Gabriel 13-2-48-1


End of over 102 (7 runs) New Zealand 220/8

MD Craig 4 (9b 1x4 0x6)
BJ Watling 26 (93b 2x4 0x6)

KAJ Roach 18-6-47-3
ST Gabriel 14-2-49-1



End of over 105 (3 runs) New Zealand 225/8

MD Craig 7 (22b 1x4 0x6)
BJ Watling 28 (98b 2x4 0x6)

ST Gabriel 16-2-54-1
SJ Benn 40-18-52-2

[socafighter]

End of over 106 (1 run) New Zealand 226/8

MD Craig 7 (25b 1x4 0x6)
BJ Watling 29 (101b 2x4 0x6)

SJ Benn 41-18-53-2
ST Gabriel 16-2-54-1


Don: "@Adam - They're not playing in England for it to rain the whole day, with WI requiring just 2 wickets i don't think any amount of rain is going to help them. "




BJ Watling provided some resistance in the lower-middle order, West Indies v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Trinidad, 4th day, June 19, 2014


End of over 109 (2 runs) New Zealand 232/8

BJ Watling 32 (109b 2x4 0x6)
MD Craig 10 (35b 1x4 0x6)

KAJ Roach 20-6-52-3
SJ Benn 42-18-54-2

[socafighter]

End of over 114 (1 run) New Zealand 237/8

BJ Watling 34 (120b 2x4 0x6)
MD Craig 13 (54b 1x4 0x6)

SJ Benn 45-19-57-2
CH Gayle 10-3-21-0

[vb]

Live scorecard here:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-new-zealand-2014/engine/match/730279.html

[socafighter]

End of over 125 (maiden) New Zealand 255/8

MD Craig 29 (96b 3x4 0x6)
BJ Watling 36 (144b 2x4 0x6)

JE Taylor 25-8-46-2
ST Gabriel 18-3-55-1

End of over 127 (1 run) New Zealand 257/8

MD Craig 29 (102b 3x4 0x6)
BJ Watling 38 (150b 2x4 0x6)

SJ Benn 49-19-62-2
ST Gabriel 19-3-56-1


5.32 pm West Indies have toiled very very hard all day. They are on the verge of a big win but they have been stretched to the limit by the ninth wicket pair of BJ Watling and Mark Craig. The two came together 27.3 overs ago when an innings loss was almost written on the cards. But they batted and batted and batted. New Zealand are only 18 runs ahead and do not have much of a chance with two wickets in hand. Keep an eye skywards as there is a some rain in the air. It is not likely to threaten the game though. We will be back tomorrow for the last day.


New Zealand 221 & 257/8 (127.0 ov)
West Indies 460

New Zealand lead by 18 runs with 2 wickets remaining

[Deeks]

Good luck to them.

[socafighter]

David Leggat: Please Lord, give us rain

10:54 AM Friday Jun 20, 2014

New Zealand's batsman BJ Watling, right, defends his wicket against West Indies during the second innings on the fourth day of their second cricket Test match in Port of Spain. Photo / AP
That New Zealand took the second test into the final day is hugely to the credit of BJ Watling and tyro Mark Craig.

Their unbroken 45-run stand ensured that New Zealand can have a prayer meeting overnight - "Please Lord, the locals need some rain" - otherwise, barring a truly remarkable rearguard action, the teams will go to Barbados with all to play for.

Watling, who has so often been a rock in the middle to latter stages of New Zealand innings of late, has battled through 61 overs for his 38; Craig has done sterling work over 102 balls for his 29.

Since his first innings duck at Wellington against India in February, Watling has scored 124, 89, 22 not out, 0 and 38 not out.

That pair have avoided an innings defeat, and would be entitled to cast a sideways glance at some of their team mates' batting efforts today.

Tom Latham got a cracking ball from Sulieman Benn, who spat up at him, but Ross Taylor and Ish Sodhi attempted forcing shots outside off stump they didn't need to play, while Tim Southee's 15 off 12 balls and subsequent loose shot were hardly what was called for.

Along the way Jimmy Neesham fell to a superb return catch by big Benn, low to his right, and Hamish Rutherford made a judgment error, shouldering arms to a right armer coming around the wicket to be lbw.

Had Rutherford, produced a decent score he could have ended the debate over which two out-of-sorts openers, Peter Fulton or himself, should get a second opportunity in the third test alongside Latham.

So in pockets there was fight, but not enough, and not consistently enough.
The West Indies bowlers are far removed from the largely sorry lot who toured New Zealand last summer.

Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach have added punch while Benn, an average performer in New Zealand five and a half years ago, has done admirably.

Assuming they wrap up the victory tomorrow - which would be only their second in the last 14 years at Queen's Park - who will take the momentum to Kensington Oval in Barbados? The home side you would imagine.

Therein lies the rub for New Zealand, who took a grip on the series in Jamaica but have been second best throughout the first four days.

- NZ Herald

[socafighter]

WI vs KIWIS
Blackwood: The key was playing my natural game
Published: Guardian
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Vinode Mamchan
 


West Indies batsman Jermaine Blackwood plays through the offside on the third day of the second Test against New Zealand at Queen's Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. Blackwood scored a half century (63) to help the regional side to a first innings score of 460. Photo: Ashley Allen
New West Indies batsman Jermaine Blackwood says that the key to his successful entry into Test cricket was playing his natural game.
 
Blackwood scored 63 off 103 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes, as he helped the West Indies to reach 460 all out in reply to New Zealand’s 221 all out. Batting a second time the New Zealanders reached 73 for one at the close of the third day.
 
Blackwood speaking to reporters at the close of play said: “When I went out there I was a bit nervous for the first over but after that I settled down and played my natural game and this really helped me.
 
“Having Shivnarine Chanderpaul out there was also a big help as he was coming up to me and telling me to play my natural game and just settle down.”
 
Blackwood said he enjoyed his time out in the middle and around the West Indies players.
 
“Being around some really good players is tremendous. Having to play my first match with guys like Chris (Gayle) and Shiv is tremendous and they have been good to me and this is helping me as I go about this first match.”
 
The Jamaican added that his stint at the Sagicor High Performance Centre (HPC) in Barbados has really helped his game.
 
“The HPC has really helped me with my game. I was allowed to concentrate on my cricket while there and bat many more balls. I was able to leave a lot of balls and take my time a bit.”
 
Blackwood, who up until three weeks ago did not even have a First Class century, now has three and a Test fifty. He said batting longer was the key.
 
“Batting more balls is what got me to triple figures in the games before the Test and even this 63 I got here is because I was able to play balls on their merit. I am not going to change my game much, if a ball is there to be hit, I am going to hit it and this should lead to success.”


Its now lunch ...

[Bitter]

These fellas serious?
This is some BS. Them gone from 212/8 to 307/8 and we not looking like we can do anything about it.

[socafighter]

129.1
Taylor to Craig, no run, length delivery on off, Craig waits on the back foot and defends it to cover
129.2
Taylor to Craig, FOUR, this is horrible! dropped by third slip - Big Benny. Taylor gets this one jag away a touch, gets the outside edge which flies at a comfortable height to third slip.. It just bursts through his fingers.
129.3
Taylor to Craig, FOUR, edge and dropped by Gayle! This is incroyable! This one should have been easier - maybe for Ramdin, definitely for Gayle.. Through the cordon and four
129.4
Taylor to Craig, no run, back of length delivery, this one meets the middle of the bat, defended to off



Kirk Edwards makes a diving save, West Indies v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Trinidad, 4th day, June 19, 2014

End of over 139 (2 runs) New Zealand 300/8

MD Craig57 (152b 7x4)
BJ Watling53 (172b 3x4)

KAJ Roach24-6-60-3
ST Gabriel20-3-57-1



Drinks. Another hour is gone.. Only five more remain. New Zealand fight continues. West Indies would think 'What if..'


Ashwin : "This is the same sort of defiance the kiwis showed earlier this year when they played India at Wellington. Great Discipline and Grit, even after conceding a 200 run lead. Good signs for the kiwis. Thought TBH would love to see the Windies grab a win here. "

Drizzling

142.4
Roach to Craig, OUT, there it is! at long last, the wicket West Indies have been waiting for, a pitched-up delivery outside off, at long last the no-footwork batting of Craig costs him, he goes for a drive well outside off and that is through to Ramdin for an easy catch, end of a 99-run stand that was getting the West Indians antsy
MD Craig c †Ramdin b Roach 67 (184m 167b 9x4 0x6) SR: 40.11



End of over 135 (3 runs) New Zealand 289/8

MD Craig55 (142b 7x4)
BJ Watling44 (158b 2x4)

KAJ Roach22-6-56-3
JE Taylor29-8-67-2




End of over 138 (1 run) New Zealand 298/8

MD Craig56 (150b 7x4)
BJ Watling52 (168b 3x4)

ST Gabriel20-3-57-1
KAJ Roach23-6-58-3


Mark Craig tries to evade a short ball, West Indies v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Trinidad, 4th day, June 19, 2014

Drizzling

End of over 148 (1 run) New Zealand 320/9

TA Boult4 (14b)
BJ Watling59 (197b 3x4)

SJ Benn56-20-73-2
KAJ Roach28-6-74-4

End of over 152 (4 runs) New Zealand 331/9

BJ Watling 66 (216b 4x4 0x6)
TA Boult 8 (19b 1x4 0x6)

SJ Benn 58-20-78-2
ST Gabriel 23-3-66-1


152.2
Gabriel to Boult, OUTit's all over, short ball outside off, bottom edge through to the keeper and the innings ends at 331, target is 93, anyone thinks there is a chance for NZ? Jeff Dujon says it is quite overcast
TA Boult c †Ramdin b Gabriel 8 (21b 1x4 0x6) SR: 38.09


Kemar Roach gets together with team-mates after dismissing Mark Craig, West Indies v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Trinidad, 5th day, June 20, 2014

Superb innings from BJ Watling, playing more than 200 deliveries. It might still not be enough to save the Test for New Zealand, but Watling is putting together a series of fighting innings just when his team needs it.



New Zealand 221 & 331 (152.2 ov)
West Indies 460

New Zealand lead by 92 runs with 0 wickets remaining

[socafighter]

Mark Craig and BJ Watling added 99 for the ninth wicket, West Indies v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Trinidad, 5th day, June 20, 2014



1.12 pm Bad news for West Indies, the covers are coming back on. It has started drizzling again.

1.05 pm The covers are coming off now. We will have restart soon. mikesiva: "I'm a bit concerned about the QPO outfield. That part of Port-of-Spain is built on land that used to be mangroves, so, when it rains, there's really nowhere for the water to run off to. As a result, it settles in the outfield."

12.55 pm The sun is out as we head into the fourth innings but it will be a while before we get going; the covers are soaking wet. West Indies don't need any more of these breaks. Just 93. They do get tricky these ones sometimes though. In another news, Rod Tucker has been replaced by Illingworth as he is not well.

jack: "Gayle should not open, instead should come in at 4 or 5, and then blast away if required. If he opens and fails yet again as he normally does, it affects the morale of the team....Good luck WI...you have earned this victory when it comes...best wishes from Toronto"

Superb innings from BJ Watling, playing more than 200 deliveries. It might still not be enough to save the Test for New Zealand, but Watling is putting together a series of fighting innings just when his team needs it.

12.15 pm Covers are coming on as it begins to rain at the Queen's Park Oval.
Raff: "Craig top-scored for NZ with 67. How frequently does a batsman batting at 10 or lower top-score for his team? Can't imagine it's all that frequent -- especially now that Phantom is not playing test cricket. "

Olly B: "To paraphrase the great Bolly Birmingham "those little Kiwis will be praying for it to rain and rain hard""

victor: "Can someone loan me a couple of TVs? There's two Test matches and a World Cup to watch." I'm keeping an eye on three TVs here.

[socafighter]

1.50 pm Strap your belts, read the safety instructions on the back of the seat, turn off your mobile phones.. we are good to take off. The teams are in the middle, sunny condition, Big Gayle and Brathwaite walk in with purpose. Ninety three to get, plenty of overs remaining assuming the weather stays clear. Gayle to take strike against Southee.


End of over 1 (5 runs) West Indies 5/0

KC Brathwaite 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)
CH Gayle 5 (3b 1x4 0x6)



End of over 3 (9 runs) West Indies 18/0

CH Gayle 17 (13b 4x4 0x6)
KC Brathwaite 1 (5b 0x4 0x6)

TG Southee 2-0-14-0
TA Boult 1-0-4-0


End of over 4 (4 runs) West Indies 22/0

KC Brathwaite 1 (8b 0x4 0x6)
CH Gayle 20 (16b 4x4 0x6)

TA Boult 2-0-7-0
TG Southee 2-0-14-0


"if only New Zealand had a Sunil Narine," shouts someone from the stands

5.6
Boult to Gayle, SIX, make it three in this over! Boult goes round the wicket but it doesn't make a difference to Gayle. It's not as big as the last shot, but this clears the ropes at long off again, comfortably
5.5
Boult to Gayle, SIX, another biggie! Lands in third tier over long-off! he charges down the pitch and flat bats it over the infield..
5.4
Boult to Gayle, no run, walks down the pitch and gets a short of length delivery that jags away from him, gets beaten by that
5.3
Boult to Gayle, SIX, this one is out of here! Hits the rooooooof! Length delivery, no swing, thank you very much. This is Gayle territory, straight over the sight screen


End of over 6 (20 runs) West Indies 49/0

CH Gayle 45 (27b 5x4 3x6)
KC Brathwaite 3 (9b 0x4 0x6)
TA Boult 3-0-27-0
TG Southee 3-0-21-0

[socafighter]

End of over 8 (17 runs) West Indies 66/0

KC Brathwaite 3 (16b 0x4 0x6)
CH Gayle 62 (32b 5x4 5x6)

IS Sodhi 1-0-17-0
TG Southee 4-1-21-0


End of over 9 (8 runs) West Indies 74/0

CH Gayle 69 (36b 5x4 6x6)
KC Brathwaite 4 (18b 0x4 0x6)

MD Craig 1-0-8-0
IS Sodhi 1-0-17-0

End of over 10 (4 runs) West Indies 78/0

KC Brathwaite 8 (24b 1x4 0x6)
CH Gayle 69 (36b 5x4 6x6)

IS Sodhi 2-0-21-0
MD Craig 1-0-8-0

End of over 13 (4 runs) West Indies 91/0

KC Brathwaite 14 (34b 1x4 0x6)
CH Gayle 76 (44b 6x4 6x6)

MD Craig 3-0-17-0
KS Williamson 1-0-4-0

2.43 pm West Indies looked set to win this by an innings, were made to stretch, but they have still managed the next best thing - they win this by 10 wickets.

New Zealand 221 & 331

West Indies 460 & 95/0 (13.2 ov)

West Indies won by 10 wickets

[Deeks]

I glad the NZ strech them to the max. Doh give them no easy win. the 99run partnership for the last wicket was prob. the best thing.  The WI must develop some fortitude. CONGRATS to them though. Thanks NZ for making the game exciting. Show them how to fight for it.

[socafighter]

Cricket: Gayle powers West Indies to win

6:22 AM Saturday Jun 21, 2014

West Indies bowler Kemar Roach, center, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Mark Craig who was caught behind by West Indies' Denesh Ramdin for 67. Photo / AP
Left-hander Chris Gayle hit six sixes in a whirlwind 80 off 46 balls today to power the West Indies to a 10-wicket victory over New Zealand midway through the fifth and final day of the second cricket test.

Gayle added seven fours as the hosts raced to a victory target of 93 without loss in just 13.2 overs at Queen's Park Oval, finishing on 95-0.

Man of the match Kraigg Brathwaite followed his first innings 129 with 14 not out.

The three-match series is now level at 1-1 with the final test in Bridgetown, Barbados, starting on Thursday.

After dismissing New Zealand for 331 in its second innings, a rain delay of an hour jangled West Indian nerves but the sun emerged and Gayle quickly erased any doubts with a typically power-packed innings.

The 34-year-old opener was particularly severe on left-arm seamer Trent Boult, who disappeared for three sixes overhead in his third over.

Gayle brought up the equal second fastest 50 by a West Indian when he smacked his 28th delivery for his fourth six, and he continued to plunder all the tourists' bowlers.

Victory was completed when Gayle cracked his seventh four through the covers off Kane Williamson's part-time off-spin.

Earlier, New Zealand carried its overnight 257-8 to 331 before being bowled out on the stroke of lunch.

Wicketkeeper B.J. Watling ended 66 not out after a marathon which spanned 6 1/2 hours and occupied 216 balls.

Left-handed tailender Mark Craig struck nine fours in a top score of 67, his maiden test half century.

Watling stretched his defiant overnight partnership with Craig to 99, a ninth wicket record for New Zealand against the Caribbean side as well as at this venue. Kemar Roach eventually made the vital breakthrough and led the West Indian bowlers with 4-74.

Shannon Gabriel took the final wicket and finished with 2-66. Fellow seamer Jerome Taylor took 2-73 and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn claimed 2-78.

The West Indies only had themselves to blame as Craig rode his luck early in the day.

He was dropped by Sulieman Benn and Gayle off successive balls from Taylor. Benn grassed a very sharp chance at third slip while Gayle was late to move to a first slip chance that wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin could easily have gone for.

Craig, in his second test, brought up 50 off 126 balls with seven fours. Watling followed soon afterward, having faced 164 balls with three boundaries.

The resistance finally ended when Roach induced Craig to edge a drive through to Ramdin.

Last man Trent Boult ( hung around for 40 minutes before Gabriel also claimed an edge to Ramdin as he tried to evade a short ball.

[socafighter]

"I thought we were pretty good for most of the Test match but that first innings, getting out for 220-odd was not good," says Brendon McCullum. "West indies deserved to win. We were 160 for 3 and we were in a very good position then, we could have gone on to record 400, but there were no partnerships. Credit to West Indies for coming back after we had them back for the first two sessions of the Test. We will cop that on the chin, we were second best, but we need to make sure we come back strongly in the next Test."

"It was a fantastic win. The conditions were tough for the bowlers," says Denesh Ramdin. "The pitch was placid, it was one in which you had to keep working well. Sulieman Benn put on a marathon spell. We were a bit lazy in the field. We hope we don't take it lightly against the lower order next time. Hopefully we can get a good pitch in Barbados, where batsmen can score runs and fast bowlers can take wickets.

" Kragg Brathwaite is the Man of the Match for his maiden Test century. He says, "I was looking forward to it (to the hundred). I have been doing a lot of work,especially against spin. I put in a lot of hard work, stayed positive and it worked well. It was not easy (staying away from the team)."

[weary1969]

The key 2 WI winning a game nobody taking them on.

[socafighter]

McCullum: WI deserved to win
By Roger Seepersad
Story Created: Jun 20, 2014 at 9:25 PM ECT
Rxpress

The New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum believes the West Indies deserved their hard-fought ten-wicket win yesterday but promises his side will bounce back stronger for the deciding Test in Barbados next week.

Speaking to the media following the game at Queen’s Park Oval, yesterday, McCullum said it was good to see the West Indies fight their way back into the series especially on the first day of the second Test when New Zealand were in a decent position after two sessions of play.
“West Indies deserved to win. We were 160 for three and we were in a very good position then but credit to West Indies for coming back after the first two sessions of the Test,” said McCullum.

Meanwhile, West Indies skipper Denesh Ramdin was all smiles after his first Test victory in charge of the regional side and it was even more special for the wicket-keeper to get success in front of his home crowd. “It was a fantastic victory in the end. It was a hard-fought win,” he said.

Ramdin had called for more patience heading into the contest and was happy with the way his players responded and he believes that it made a difference in the end.
“I think we bowled the right areas and we were a lot more patient in this game. They were 80 odd for one wicket on the first day and we pulled in back by Tea time and then having lost the toss and to bowl them out, any captain will take that in a day’s play,” he said.
“The conditions were tough for the bowlers but our bowlers put in a lot of effort and our batters did the job in the first innings was good to set up the match. Coming out of Jamaica we needed to attack the bowlers more and be confident and play our natural game,” Ramdin explained.

However, Ramdin insisted that the home team still have some work to do ahead of the final match of the three-Test series and they struggled to dismiss the Kiwis in the second innings, allowing a 99-run eighth-wicket partnership to stretch the game into the final day. “It was frustrating having that lower order come and put on a partnership. They gave us some chances but we did not take them. And at the end of the day I think we were lackadaisical in the field and we were not hungry for that last couple of wickets there,” said Ramdin.

“We came back this morning (yesterday) with a lazy attitude and that could have haunted us but we came out on the better end in this match. It is very important that we stay patient, stay humble and hungry for success when we head to Barbados,” he added.

[kaliman2006]

The key 2 WI winning a game nobody taking them on.

Caught the highlights; the crowd was still sparse.