Wellington: An unbeaten half-century from Jason Holder and a strong partnership with Joshua da Silva helped West Indies to 244/6, 85 behind New Zealand, at stumps on day three here on Sunday.
Bad light interrupted a resolute sixth-wicket partnership between Jason Holder and Joshua da Silva after the visitors were asked to follow on after finishing their first innings on 131. West Indies lost half their side before the tea break, but Holder and debutant da Silva kept the visitors in the game.
Holder smashed two sixes and a four in three overs after Jermaine Blackwood’s dismissal and took the attack to the Black Caps. The skipper completed a half-century off 73 balls eventually as da Silva also settled in nicely. Soon after the drinks break, the umpires deemed that it wasn’t bright enough for the game to continue.
At the start of the second innings, John Campbell and Kraigg Brathwaite survived the first 10 overs of the new ball, but in the 12th over the resistance came to an end as Trent Boult picked up Brathwaite and Darren Bravo in the space of four balls to undo the visitors’ efforts. Shamarh Brooks showed intent early on with some good-looking shots and alongside a composed Campbell, took the Windies to lunch unscathed.
The two continued to forge a strong association even after the break and then Campbell brought up his half-century with back-to-back fours off Neil Wagner.
The two batters started opening up more with runs coming quickly. Brooks’ fight didn’t last long, though, as he nicked Wagner to the ‘keeper on 36.
Roston Chase didn’t last long and grabbed a pair when he nicked Kyle Jamieson to the cordon. The tall pacer went on to dismiss Campbell as well in his next over and the Windies had lost three wickets in the space of adding four runs. Jason Holder and Jermaine Blackwood survived lbw shouts, but carried West Indies to the tea break without further damage.
Earlier, New Zealand brought the West Indies’ first innings to an early close with Tim Southee grabbing the last two wickets. The visitors added just seven runs to their overnight total and were promptly asked to follow on.
Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson shared the spoils with five wickets apiece, the first time two New Zealand bowlers had taken five-wicket hauls in the same Test innings at home. (UNI)
