New Zealand gained full control of the second Test in Wellington with a solid first innings and early strikes late in the day. Devon Conway and debutant Mitchell Hay led the way with calm half-centuries that helped the hosts secure a first-innings lead of 73 runs.
New Zealand bowled out West Indies for 205 and replied with 278 before being dismissed in the final session on day two at Basin Reserve. West Indies then struggled again with the bat. They slipped to 32 for two in their second innings. Brandon King was on 15 and Kavem Hodge on three. The visitors still trailed by 41 runs.
New Zealand missed fast bowler Blair Tickner, who did not bat and will not bowl or field after dislocating his shoulder while trying to save a boundary on Wednesday. Jacob Duffy still felt pleased with the team’s position. “I think there might be a couple of guys that are gutted to get the start and not quite kick on, but I think 80-90 lead and we got them two down already, so I think I’ll be happy with that,” he said.
The day had started with an early setback for New Zealand. Captain Tom Latham lost his off stump to Kemar Roach after the hosts resumed on 22. Conway and Kane Williamson then calmed the innings with a steady 67-run stand.
Anderson Phillip lifted West Indies with figures of 3-70. He clean bowled Williamson for 37. Roach added more pressure by removing Rachin Ravindra for five. That brought Hay to the crease on his debut. He replaced Tom Blundell, who missed the match with a hamstring injury.
Hay showed confidence from the start. He reached his fifty and then struck Ojay Shields for two fours in a row. Soon after, he pulled a delivery straight to Roach at square leg. His lively 61 featured nine fours and a six.
West Indies then rode their luck early in their second innings. King smashed a return catch back to Duffy, who dropped it, and the ball rolled close to the stumps at the non-striker’s end with John Campbell stranded. Campbell, relieved to survive, struck three fours off Foulkes in the next over. But he misjudged a ball from debutant Michael Rae and saw his stumps rattled.
Nightwatchman Anderson Phillip lasted only three balls. Duffy trapped him lbw after convincing captain Latham to review the original not-out call.
