Chanderpaul reaches new landmark as West Indies cruise along

Port-of-Spain (Trinidad), June 18 (IANS/CMC) Veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul became the seventh highest all-time run-scorer in Tests as West Indies took firm command of the second Test against New Zealand here Wednesday.

At lunch on the third day, the Caribbean side was 396 for seven -- a lead of 175 runs - with Chanderpaul stroking 47 and debutant Jermaine Blackwood unbeaten on 31, reports CMC.

Blackwood was partnered by captain Denesh Ramdin on four.

Resuming the day on 310 for five, West Indies lost nightwatchman Kemar Roach about 40 minutes into the session, caught at mid-wicket by Jimmy Neesham off left-arm seamer Trent Boult for six, with 23 runs added.

Chanderpaul and Blackwood then posted 47 for the seventh wicket, as New Zealand's bowlers once again toiled without making much of an impression.

The 39-year-old Chanderpaul, on four not out overnight, started positively with a cover drive for four in the day's fourth over from Boult before pulling the first ball of off-spinner Mark Craig's opening spell to the square boundary.

He cleared long on with Craig for his only six and when he reached 32 with a single to the deep in the bowler's next over, he overtook Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara in seventh spot on the list of all-time run-scorers in Tests.

He now has 11,374 runs from 155 Tests.

Chanderpaul took two successive fours off leg-spinner Ish Sodhi before falling lbw on review to the same bowler, in the fourth over before lunch. He faced 93 balls and struck five fours and a six.

Blackwood, meanwhile, played with the same freedom that has characterised his form in recent weeks, crunching three fours and two sixes off 57 deliveries.

The right-hander got off the mark with a streaky boundary through slip off Boult but then lofted the bowler effortlessly over long on in the same over.

Dropped on 11 at short leg by Tom Latham off Craig, Blackwood pressed on unperturbed, nailing one from Sodhi over long off as lunch approached.

Boult has been the best bowler with three for 53 while Sodhi has taken two for 85.

New Zealand: 221 (Tom Latham 82, Ross Taylor 45 not out, Kane Williamson 42; Jerome Taylor 4/34, Sulieman Benn 3/73, Shannon Gabriel 2/43)

West Indies: 396 for seven (Kraigg Brathwaite 129, Darren Bravo 109, Kirk Edwards 55, Shiv Chanderpaul 47, Jermaine Blackwood 31 not out; Trent Boult 3/53, Ish Sodhi 2/85)

--IANS/CMC

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