NZ VS WI: New Zealand Chip Away At Wickets In Absorbing 2nd Session.

New Zealand chipped away at the wickets striking twice in the second session while West Indies too did not give it away in what was an absorbing session where no team really edged another. Both teams had their moments and the Test match one would have to say hangs in the balance with Roston Chase the captain and Justin Greaves at the crease. Blair Tickner has been the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand.

John Campbell falls after getting a start; Shai Hope & Roston Chase weather excellent bowling from New Zealand. 

John Campbell and Shai Hope came out to resume proceedings for West Indies while Zak Foulkes started the proceedings with ball in hand for New Zealand. Foulkes overstepped but bowled a decent over. Michael Rae had ball in hand from the other end and he removed Campbell for 44 off 87 balls with 6 fours to his name as the good length outside off-stump was driven with hard hands to get the edge to Daryl Mitchell at first slip. Captain Roston Chase came out to bat next.

Hope then swivelled and helped it on its way for a boundary. Rae continued as the 100 came up for West Indies in 30.3 overs. Head was hit on the helmet by a short ball and went through a mandatory concussion test. Foulkes bowled another probing over. Rae continued as Hope got forward and opened the bat face to find the gully between gully and point for a boundary. Hope got hit on the helmet again by Rae as he looked uncomfortable out there.

Foulkes bowled another good over. Hope then drove Rae down the ground for a boundary past mid-on. Foulkes bowled a decent over. Rae continued as Hope carved it through the covers beautifully for a boundary. Blair Tickner came back into the attack. He bowled a maiden. Jacob Duffy came back into the attack. Duffy bowled a miserly over. Tickner bowled another decent over. West Indies were 131/3 in 40 overs with Hope and Chase at the crease when we all paused for the Drinks Break.

Shai Hope falls to Blair Tickner, Roston Chase & Justin Greaves negotiate the remaining overs before Tea. 

Jacob Duffy continued after the break and bowled a decent over. Tickner continued and bowled a tight over. Hope then leaned into the shot through mid-on for a boundary. Tickner bowled another decent over. Glenn Phillips came into the attack as we had first signs of spin into play. The 50-run stand came up between Shai Hope and Roston Chase. Tickner continued as Hope drove the bowler down the ground past mid-off for a boundary.

Tickner hit back and got rid of Hope for 48 off 80 balls with 8 fours to his name. The short ball did the trick for the bowler as the top edge went to Williamson at third slip as he tried to fend at the ball. Justin Greaves came out to bat next. Phillips continued and bowled a decent over. Duffy came back into the attack and bowled a miserly over. Phillips too kept things under check. Duffy bowled another probing over which was a maiden.

Phillips continued as Chase swept away down on one knee and it was hard to deep backward square leg for a boundary. Duffy continued and bowled another probing over. Phillips continued as Chase got down on one knee and swept it away to deep square leg for a boundary. Michael Rae came to bowl the final over before Tea. Greaves climbed onto the short and wide ball and slapped it between cover and point for a boundary. At the end of 54 overs, West Indies were 175/4 with Greaves on 10* off 37 balls while Chase was on 29* off 60 balls. 11 extras given by the New Zealand team so far.

It’s been hard work for the New Zealand bowlers with Blair Tickner being the pick of the bowlers with 3/27 in 11 overs while Michael Rae on debut has a wicket with figures of 1/53 in 11 overs. The rest of the bowlers have bowled decently and kept things under check to set up an intriguing last session.

What Lies Ahead In Evening Session. 

The match is nicely poised as we had an absorbing second session to leave the Test match nicely poised at 175/4 with Roston Chase and Justin Greaves at the crease. New Zealand have bowled decently while West Indies has not given it away either. It sets up for an intriguing and important final session. Who will have the upper hand after the final session and get bragging rights?

Find out when the third and final session kicks off soon.

Also Read: NZ vs WI: New Zealand Aims To Outclass West Indies