West Indies avoid embarrassing defeat
Ruffin RemadCorrespondent
Posted - 2020-12-05T12:52:09+06:00
Updated - 2020-12-05T12:52:09+06:00
West Indies may still lose the Hamilton Test by an innings but it could have been even worse if they had lost on day 3 of the first Test against New Zealand.
West Indies were 49/0 overnight in reply to New Zealand's 519/7d. The hosts wrapped the Caribbeans for 138 in 64 overs, taking a 381-run first innings lead and enforcing a follow-on.
With at least 45 overs to play, there was a possibility of West Indies being bowled out for the second time in the day, a case that has happened only four times in Test history. However, New Zealand managed to take six wickets in the second innings after the end of third day's play. Thanks to fifties from Jermaine Blackwood and tail-ender
.
West Indies lost 5 for 53 at one stage before losing their captain
(8) as the sixth wicket on 89 runs. Blackwood led a counter-attack to the New Zealanders and also guided his fellow Joseph at the other end for a 107-run stand that is still going on.
Blackwood is on 80* runs from 98 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes. He will be eyeing a second Test ton on day four as his side trail by 185 runs in the second innings. Joseph raced to maiden Test half-century in 59 balls. He remains unbeaten on 73-ball 59 runs, hitting 9 fours and a six.
West Indies are 196/6 in 42 overs, scoring at 4.66 runs per over. Meanwhile, Shane Dowrich is yet to bat in the Test match with a finger injury.
Earlier, Blackcaps went through West Indian batting line-up in the first innings. The collapse started with the wicket of opener John Campbell (26) in the first over of the day. Tim Southee bagged 4 wickets for 35 runs.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 519/7d in the 1st innings
West Indies 138 in 64 overs in the 1st innings
(Campbell 26; Southee 4/35, Jamieson 2/25, Wagner 2/33)
West Indies 196/6 in 42 overs (f/o) in the 2nd innings
(Blackwood 80*, Joseph 59*; Wagner 2/62, Mitchell 1/7)