West Indies Poised For Series Win

Tino Best showing heart

After a dreadful third morning in which they lost 5-50 in thirty overs, New Zealand all but gifted the second Test of their two Test series to the West Indies. After conceding a 51 run lead to the Kiwis on the second day, the West Indies stormed back into the match in the morning session thanks to inept batting and the excellent captaincy of Darren Sammy.

Night watchman Neil Wagner had lasted 45 minutes before he was the first of a double strike by Tino Best. The Barbadian found Wagner's edge and two balls later, Ross Taylor played another loose shot, aiming to cut a short ball outside his off stump in much the same way as he had in the first innings. Ramdin gratefully accepted both chances. Brendon McCullum took seven overs to add four runs before he fell at bat pad to Narsingh Deonarine and by now, it was a similar story for the New Zealanders who have been impotent against spin and susceptible to pace. Kane Williamson edged Deonarine to Sammy at slip, completing a wretched tour for a young man so much has been expected of. Right on lunch, Kruger van Wyk played a dreadful hoik at Sunil Narine and sent his top edge into the safe hands of Shiv Chanderpaul at square leg.

Dean Brownlie batted with poise throughout, at least looking to keep runs flowing but it was an impossible task with the spinners drying his partners up.

It only took an hour after lunch and even though Doug Bracewell again showed his liking for a scrap, Narine and Kemar Roach closed down the tail leaving the West Indies chasing 206.

They started badly, losing Chris Gayle and Keiron Powell in the first four overs, both to lbw decisions but Asad Fudadin and Marlon Samuels steadied the ship adding 74 for the third wicket. Samuels was hitting off drives against the trend on a wicket which was providing enough movement to suggest the dangers outside off stump. Had BJ Wattling been up to the task in the gully when Samuels was on 20, things might have been so much better for New Zealand. As it was, Fudadin and Samuels were both out in the last hour: Fudadin aiming to cut Wagner but inside edging back onto his off stump and Samuels flirting with Bracewell outside off only for Taylor to hold a brilliant catch at slip.

New Zealand have a chance. The wicket will help, as will the West Indies nervousness in these situations but its hard to imagine the remaining 71 being a bridge too far with Chanderpaul at the crease, the flinty Deonarine to follow and Sammy being so close to being the first West Indies captain to deliver a series win at home for three years and only the second in eight years.