ZCZC
BSP-06
CRICKET-NZL-WIS
Windies take three as New Zealand stumble
WELLINGTON, Dec 11, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – An expensive start blossomed into a
fruitful session for the West Indies as New Zealand reached 82 for three at
lunch on day one of the second Test in Wellington on Friday.
Will Young was holding the innings together on 26 with Henry Nicholls on
two at the Basin Reserve.
Everything was stacked in the West Indies’ favour when Jason Holder won the
crucial toss and put New Zealand in to bat on a verdant strip and with a
howling gale behind Shannon Gabriel and the new ball.
Gabriel, in his 50th Test, initially struggled to find a consistent line
and was smacked for 21 off his first two overs.
But once he settled, he was almost unplayable and claimed his first wicket
when he bowled Tom Blundell for 14 with a good length that pitched outside
off and zipped sharply back.
The return of fit-again wicketkeeper BJ Watling had seen Blundell returned
to his usual opening slot while Young moved to number three following the
late withdrawal of Kane Williamson with the birth of his first child
imminent.
The West Indies made two changes from the first Test with debut caps to
Chemar Holder and Joshua da Silva, in for Kemar Roach and Shane Dowrich, and
the pair combined to dismiss Tom Latham for their maiden wicket.
New Zealand stand-in skipper Latham, who survived a painful crack on the
elbow from Gabriel, reached 27 before he was beaten by a ball that moved off
the wicket and sent a faint edge to the keeper.
Ross Taylor took several blows to the body before returning fire with a
four and three off consecutive balls from Chemar Holder.
But it was a short-lived fightback with Taylor adding only two more before
he was caught behind to give Gabriel his second wicket.
At lunch, Gabriel had the figures of two for 29 with only eight runs off
his last seven overs.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0918 hrs