Story New Zealand's Caribbean Battle - Stumps, Day 3 Up!

[Spoobir]

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New Zealand got the 4 wickets they needed this morning in an eventful session. Vettori picked up his first wicket of the innings as Carlton Baugh holed out to mid on whilst trying to go over the top and Jesse Ryder took his 3rd, and most simple, catch of the innings. An important breakthrough as the tail was now well and truly exposed.

Fidel Edwards scored 9 off 8 before top edging behind to Gareth Hopkins while trying to play a fine cut shot off the bowling of O'Brien, who picked up his 3rd wicket. Vettori picked up his second when Darren Sammy swung mightily across the line and missed completely, having his off-stump pegged back. This wicket bodes well for Vettori later on in the match as the ball turned and straightened out of one of the cracks in this very dry pitch.

Some tail-end slogging from Daren Powell and Jerome Taylor brought West Indies above 300 before Powell bottom edged onto the stumps with an attempted pull shot. They were all out of 308.

Both the New Zealand openers made it the 9 overs till lunch and played some good strokes to put on 25 runs before the interval.

Lunch Day 2 New Zealand 25 for no wicket (McIntosh 12*, McCullum 11*) trail West Indies 308 (Chanderpaul 122, Sarwan 51) by 283 runs

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[riz7khan12]

O'Brien bowled a tight line and reaped the rewards which is hardly seen these days. The kiwi openers are playing pretty well and are solid in defense against the west indian quicks who are way quicker than the NZ bowlers.

 

[Spoobir]

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The West Indian fast bowlers struck in quick succession to leave New Zealand on the brink in the afteroon session in Antigua. The pacemen got the most out of the bouncy pitch and demolished the Kiwi middle order who played some loose strokes when patience was most required

The two openers looked to be doing well as they saw off the new ball without too much trouble and the partnership went past 50. However just as they were starting to push on McCullum flashed at a one that was wide but at a good length and sent an outside edge that was snagged at second slip

McIntosh played really well for his 50, bringing it up with a lofted cut over point. He played some maginificent drives and in the end it was his willingness to play off the front foot proved his downfall, edging through to Sarwan at third slip.

McIntosh's departure was the catalyst the flurry of wickets that fell soon after. Guptil was first to go, a great short ball by Fidel Edgwards tucked him up and all he could do was prod it behind to the waiting hands of Sarwan. Ross Taylor was also a victim of the extra bounce, sending a slight nick behind to the keeper with an attempted cut shot.

It was the short ball that also did for Jesse Ryder, attempted to play another vicious delivery from Edwards he could only fend it straight down the throat of Powell at short leg. New Zealand had fallen from 93/1 to 109/5.

Captain Vettori and Daniel Flynn guided New Zealand to the tea break without further incident but the Kiwis will be extremely disappointed with their effort with the bat so far. A lot of work is now needed if they are to get close to the 308 set by West Indies in the first innings.

Despite some poor strokes by the batsmen full praise should be given to the West Indies fast bowlers. They bowled with aggression and got the most out of the pace and bounce of this pitch. If they can keep this up and break though to the New Zealand tail they stand an excellent chance of getting them out for a low total and grabbing the initiative in this first test match.

Tea New Zealand 126 for 5 (McIntosh 55, McCullum 21) trail West Indies by 182 runs.

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[timmy94]

Some great quick bowling from the Windies, got New Zealand in to a bit of a collapse. 6th wicket partnership is looking good.

 

[just_cricket]

NZ in a bit of trouble here. Flynn is a cricketer to be taken seriously, but even if he and Vettori (together with the tail eventually) can get to within 50 of the West Indies' score, it will be a tough task to chase anything much in the fourth innings.

The onus is on Flynn and Vettori here to get as close to the Windies' score as possible. Hopkins and Thompson are certainly no mugs with the bat, with plenty of first class hundreds to their name, and Southee can bash a few at the end. So the pair at the crease now really need to put on another hundred, and then if the last three or four can put together 80 odd, NZ will be in with a sniff.

KUTGW anyway!

 

[surendar]

*SPOILERS*Since there are videos highlights below most of the bulletins will be in spoiler code for people who want to watch without knowing what happens

I liked the above sense of humor from writers' point of view. Top class efforts with the story till now. Keep it going. Good luck.

 

[Roofrom50]

The New Zealand tail end certainly know how to bat. They can make up this total, but all batsman need to be on their A-game. It should be a interesting finish to the game, and i look forward to the next update.

 

[Spoobir]

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New Zealand's lower order fought back on a rapidly flattening wicket in the evening session in Antigua. Fidel Edwards managed to exploit what little remained out of the pitch to produce some extra bounce which surprised Daniel Vettori who sent a hooping edge out to gulley while attempting to play to the on-side. He was gone for 13 and the West Indies had the early breakthrough they would have wanted after the tea break.

The reduction of pace in the pitch was plain for all to see when Flynn nicked behind but the ball fell well short of Baugh behind the stumps. There were still a couple of occasions where the bowlers managed to beat the bat or get a nick but it was plain sailing for the batsmen in the final hour of play.

As the pitch flattened and the bowlers tired it was Daniel Flynn who cashed in with some good shots to bring up his 50. He'd had a few hairy moments with edges over, short and through the slips but survived them all to build a good partnership with Hopkins, who is playing only his second test match.

Fidel Edwards was the pick up of the bowlers today, he bowled back of a length and found some extra bounce to surprise the batsmen and pick up 3 wickets at just 2.5 runs an over. However he has bowled alot of overs today and if New Zealand aren't knocked over quickly tomorrow Gayle will have to look to other options or risk him getting fatigued.

It's been another day where the pendulum has swung in both directions with West Indies looking on top in the afternoon and New Zealand fighting back towards the end of the day. With the pitch looking to favour the batsmen over the next few days and Antigua traditionally not offering alot for the spinners it is vital that West Indies get through this partnership and the rest of the lower order in good time tomorrow if they want to give themselves a good shot at winning the match.

Close of Play New Zealand 212 for 6 (Flynn 58*, McIntosh 55) trail West Indies 308 (Chanderpaul 122, Sarwan 51) by 96 runs

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[Aditya]

Flynn and Hopkins are looking good at the crease. New Zealand will finish off the trail and give West Indies some lead I guess.

Keep up the good work, Spoobir.

 

[Spoobir]

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Some tail-end slogging got New Zealand to within 30 runs of the West Indies before Gayle and Smith put on 50 in an opening stand before lunch.

When Gareth Hopkins edged behind not long after the start of play Daniel Flynn was left trying to put on as many runs with the tail as possible, part time spinner Chris Gayle was the main target of his assault getting tonked all over the ground. Flynn eventually top-edged high into the air with an attempted cut and was caught by Gayle himself who called for it and sprinted back to take it safely.

Tim Southee was next to go as he smacked one straight down the throat of Nash off the bowling of Sammy. O'Brien and Thomson put on a handy 31 runs for the 10th wicket as they swung wildly at some loose deliveries by the bowlers before Thomson attempted one shot too many and was caught in the deep off the bowling of Taylor.

With 12 overs to bat before lunch Gayle and Smith cashed in on the now generally flat deck to put on a 50 partnership just before the break. The Black Caps bowlers are going to have to be patient, keep it tight and wait for wickets from now on. If they cannot keep the runrate down they may find themselves chasing a huge total in the final innings of the match.

Lunch Day 2 West Indies 308 (Chanderpaul 122, Sarwan 51) and 50 for no wicket lead New Zealand 278 (Flynn 76, McIntosh 55) by 80 runs

Scorecards:

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[treva]

Enjoyed watching the video there mate. New Zealand need to break this partnership after Lunch as quickly as possible otherwise they could be looking at a huge chase.

 

[Aditya]

New Zealand need to dismiss Chris Gayle soon after lunch. If Chris Gayle gets going then New Zealand are sure to be chasing a big total.

Good work on the update, Spoobir.

 

[AbhishekS]

Nice partnership building up for the Windies there. Expecting Smith and Gayle to complete at least a century stand.

 

[Spoobir]

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Gayle and Smith came out in an aggressive mood after lunch. They were deadly with anything wide or short, hitting some beautiful cut shots and cover drives and soon they had the run rate up above four an over. Gayle brought up his captain's fifty which contained seven fours, all of them through the off-side.

However it was not long afterwards that Smith fell before reaching his own 50. An attempted drive off a full pitched delivery from O'Brien led to a thin outside edge which was taken well by McIntosh low down to his right. Smith looked annoyed that he had failed to reach his milestone but he had to go.

Gayle looked to continue his attacking style with the highlight being a brilliant on-drive straight back past O'Brien who could only watch in frustration. Not long after though Tim Southee had Gayle's number with his niggling offstump line on a good length. He manged to bring Gayle forward in defence and get the edge but it fell well short of the slips, the next ball though was perfect and the edge carried to Guptill who moved forwards to take a simple chance. Gayle's promising knock was finished.

First innings centurion Chanderpaul was again at the crease with Sarwan, a partnership which had frustrated New Zealand for a long time on day one. This meant the Black Caps were absolutely delighted when Thomson pushed Chanderpaul back in his crease and nick one behind to the keeper. Chanderpaul went from a hundred in the first innings to a duck in the second and will be angry with himself as he could easily have left the ball alone.

Sarwan and Nash looked in good touch, Nash getting off the mark with a good pull shot and Sarwan also pulling one in the air to the boundary, they made it through to tea safely and will look to consolidate their partnership in the final session of day three.

Despite striking with three wickets the New Zealand bowlers have struggled on this flat wicket. Southee and Thomson have been expensive and Vettori's 5 overs got pummeled for 28 runs. When they have hit their lines and lengths they have threatened the batsmen however so that should give them some hope in the final session as they look to work their way through the West Indies batting lineup.

Tea Day 3: West Indies 308 (Chanderpaul 122, Sarwan 51) and 156 for 3 lead New Zealand 278 (Flynn 76, McIntosh 55) by 186 runs

Scorecards:

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[Spoobir]

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A very good session for West Indies means New Zealand will likely have to chase a big target in the final innings of this first test match.

Things started well for the Black Caps with Vettori striking in the first over after the tea break: Brendan Nash failing to pick the arm ball and sending a thickish outside edge to McIntosh at slip, he was gone for 11. The New Zealand bowlers failed to capitalize on this good start however, with Sarwan and new man Bravo doing a good job of building their partnership.

Sarwan brought up his 50 with a classy shot straight back over part timer Ross Taylor's head, it was only the third boundary of his innings which shows how good his running has been today, with plenty of singles, twos and threes to build up his score.

It was Taylor who took most of the brunt of the batsmen's assault in the final hour of play, his 7 overs going for 39. He was unable to keep a consistent line and length and on a pitch with very little to offer the spinners they were able to target him with ease. Bravo in particular seemed to enjoy facing him and was able to put away the bad balls comfortably.

There was one very hairy moment for the Bravo when he set off for a single that was never really on. Sarwan had miss-timed a shot which went nowhere when Bravo set off, charging down the pitch. Keeper Hopkins did well to pick up and hit the stumps but Bravo got the dive off and the third umpire showed his bat was just touching the ground when the bails were knocked off.

So at the close of the third day's play West Indies are way on top. They should definitely at least set New Zealand a target of 350+ which will be a tough ask to chase down in under 2 days, even with the pitch not giving too much to the bowlers.

Close of Play West Indies 265 for 4 (Sarwan 79*, Gayle 64) and 308 lead New Zealand (Flynn 76, McIntosh 55) by 295 runs

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