NZ v WI, 1st Test, Day 2, Review: Hosts hold firm grip as the lead goes past 300

New Zealand enjoyed a batting friendly day at Basin Reserve in Wellington and plundered as many as 362 runs. Colin de Grandhomme smashed a second fastest century for Kiwis in the whites as the visitors had a long day on the field. Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls and Tom Blundell scored timely half-centuries and helped the team own the day. However, Windies bowlers looked hapless as the hosts finished the day strongly on 447/9 leading by 313 runs.

Jeet Raval and Ross Taylor, the overnight batsmen, resumed the day as the visitors aimed to bundle out the relatively inexperienced batting-line up soon. They started well too as the former edged an outside off-stump delivery to Shane Dowrich off Kemar Roach. But then it was a one-way traffic as the batsmen got settled on a flat pitch and a sunny day. Taylor, in particular, was sublime in his shot-making with Nicholls joining him in the fun. The duo mixed caution with aggression superbly and added 127 runs for the fourth wicket.

de Grandhomme humiliate Windies

Taylor agonisingly missed out on a thoroughly deserved century only by seven runs as he was caught plumb in front by Roach on 93. Windies came back well courtesy Miguel Cummins who scalped Mitchell Santner and Nicholls which reduced the Kiwis to 281/6. But the worst was yet to come for Jason Holder and his men. Colin de Grandhomme and the debutant Tom Blundell got under the skins of the Caribbean bowlers and smashed them to all the parts of the ground.

The former was extremely aggressive and took the game away from Windies very quickly. He slammed a century off just 71 deliveries which is also the second fastest for the country only behind Brendon McCullum who has done it off 54 balls. Blundell too got to a half-century on his international debut in red-ball cricket as the lead comfortably went past 250. Both of them added 148 runs at almost a run a ball and as the bowlers looked helpless.

Late wickets in the day was the only respite for them with the Kiwi batters looking for some quick runs. Roston Chase was the beneficiary of all who scalped the centurion and Neil Wagner who decimated them with the ball. All the bowlers went for runs as they never really threatened at any point in the day except a brief period with the second new ball. Roach was impressive but couldn’t breach the defence of the batsmen often. Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder were also decent but in patches, as the batsmen were in no mood to give their opposition any chance to come back into the game.

What’s in store for the third day?

The game could well finish on the third day itself if Windies doesn’t bat exceptionally well. They would love to put up a fight and show their resilience going into the second and the final game of the series. The result is a foregone conclusion as far as the ongoing Test match is concerned unless a heroic and stupendous effort from the Windies batsmen to make it a game to remember for them. The likes of Shai Hope and Kraigg Brathwaite need to put their hands up and dig in to frustrate the hosts.

New Zealand, on the other hand, would love to finish the match and enjoy an extra break of two days. They just have to repeat what they did on the first day as the wicket will quicken up on the third day as Kane Williamson stated at the toss. The visitors will surely put up a fight though but it is unlikely the result would change.

Brief Scores

Windies 134/10 ( K Powell 42; N Wagner 7/39, T Boult 2/36)

New Zealand 447/9 (de Grandhomme 105, R Taylor 93, H Nicholls 67, T Blundell 57*)