NZ VS WI: West Indies Chip Away At Wickets In 2nd Session.

West Indies continued to chip away at wickets on Day 2 afternoon session to keep New Zealand at check. They bowled decently while Mitchell Hay on debut scored a half century to bring New Zealand within touching distance of West Indies first innings total. This Test match is progressing fast and it is New Zealand who are a tad ahead at this stage.

West Indies strike twice to keep New Zealand under check in first hour. 

Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra resumed proceedings for New Zealand while Kemar Roach had ball in hand for West Indies. Roach struck straightaway as he removed Ravindra for 5 off 13 balls with one four to his name as the fuller length outside off-stump got him to drive away from the body and the catch was taken by keeper Imlach. Daryl Mitchell came out to bat next.

Justin Greaves came onto bowl from the other end and he removed Conway for 60 off 108 balls with 8 fours to his name as he was caught down the leg side by the keeper Imlach who dived full length to take the catch. Mitchell Hay came out to bat on debut and got off the mark. Roach continued and bowled another tight over. Greaves continued as Mitchell drove through the covers for a triple. Hay hit Greaves by cutting through the covers for a boundary. Roach continued as Hay got a triple through the covers.

Jayden Seales came back into the attack as Hay drove through the covers for a boundary. Hay then took on Seales by clubbing it over deep fine leg for the maximum. Roach continued and bowled a good over. Justin Greaves came back into the attack. He bowled a maiden. Seales changed ends as Mitchell took him on by climbing onto it and lofted over long-off for the maximum.

Greaves changed ends as well. He bowled a decent over as well. Seales bowled a decent over as well. Greaves continued and bowled a maiden. New Zealand were 155/4 in 46 overs with Hay batting on 22* off 34 balls while Mitchell was batting on 13* off 33 balls. We all paused for the Drinks Break.

Daryl Mitchell falls for 25; but Mitchell Hay’s fifty on debut drives New Zealand closer to parity. 

Jayden Seales continued after the break and bowled a tight over. Greaves too kept things tight. Seales continued as Hay took the attack to Seales by hitting two consecutive boundaries through midwicket and then the outside edge through the slip cordon. Greaves continued and we had a long pause due to sight screen issues and it took time to solve it. The 50-run stand came up between the two players.

Anderson Phillip came back into the attack. Mitchell managed to get a triple past extra covers. Mitchell then thrashed Phillip by making room and smashing through covers for a boundary. Greaves continued and bowled a decent over. Phillip continued as Hay picked the length early and pulled it down the ground past mid-on for a boundary. Ojay Shields came back into the attack. He bowled a wayward over and gave away easy runs.

Phillip continued as Hat flicked it past midwicket for a triple. Phillip then got rid of Mitchell for 25 off 52 balls with one four and one six to his name thanks to good usage of DRS as he got a tickle down the leg side to the keeper Imlach who took the catch. Glenn Phillips came out to bat next. Shields continued as Hay steered it away to open the face of the bat and guide it to deep backward point for a boundary.

Hay then pulled Shields to the left of deep backward square leg for a boundary as he reached his maiden Test fifty on debut off 74 balls. Phillip came to bowl the last over before Tea as the 200 came up for New Zealand in 56.2 overs. Phillips survived a major scare as his laziness almost got him short of the crease. But he got back in time and put his foot down in time. New Zealand were 200/5 in 57 overs with Hay on 52* off 75 balls and Phillips on 2* off 6 balls as they trailed by 5 runs at Tea on Day 2.

West Indies bowled decently well in the session picking up 3 wickets in the session. Kemar Roach got a wicket to his name and has two wickets in the innings. Anderson Phillip has two wickets as well with Justin Greaves getting a wicket as well. New Zealand slightly ahead but West Indies trying to fight with ball in hand.

What Lies Ahead In Evening Session. 

West Indies have done well to keep New Zealand under check. But New Zealand have managed to reach 200/5 and now trail by 5 runs. Blair Tickner is unlikely to bat so they have only 4 wickets in hand. They will take the lead and look to get as much as possible while West Indies would like to limit the lead of New Zealand. A fascinating final session awaits us all.

It’s a crucial one at that and let’s see who has their noses in front at the end of the day’s play.

Also Read: NZ VS WI: Blair Tickner’s 4-Wicket Haul Gives Edge To New Zealand