West Indies chase 93 for victory after frustrating wait

Port-of-Spain (Trinidad), June 20 (IANS/CMC) West Indies will chase 93 to win the second cricket Test after New Zealand were dismissed for 331 in their second innings at lunch on the final day at Queen's Park Oval here Friday.

The Caribbean side, however, were forced to endure another frustrating session before finally dismissing the Kiwis 13 minutes after the scheduled lunch break, after the session was extended with nine wickets down.

New Zealand were once again outstanding courtesy of wicketkeeper BJ Watling who finished unbeaten on 66 while overnight partner Mark Craig scored a superb 67.

The pair put on 99 for the ninth wicket as the Black Caps, resuming the day on 257 for eight, added 74 runs in the session. They were helped by a short rain break and negative tactics by West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin who set the field deep from as early as the first over, allowing both batsmen to milk singles and ease pressure.

Craig, who bowled poorly in the match, compensated with an innings lasting 167 balls, three hours and which included nine fours.

Watling remained unflappable throughout, striking just four fours in a knock that required 216 balls in 6-1/2 hours at the crease.

With West Indies clearly running out of ideas and patience, Roach finally got the breakthrough in the third over following the first drinks break, when Craig was taken behind by Ramdin, driving.

Trent Boult, who made eight, joined Watling to add another 20 runs for the final wicket, spending 40 minutes at the crease, and once again helping to frustrate the bowlers.

They were a few overs away from carrying New Zealand to the safety of lunch when Boult played at a ball he should have left from pacer Shannon Gabriel, giving Ramdin his fifth catch of the innings.

Roach was the best bowler with four for 74 while Gabriel (2-66), seamer Jerome Taylor (2-73) and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn (2-78) shared the other wickets.

Brief scores:

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) and 331 (Mark Craig 67, Bradley-John Watling 66 not out, Kane Williamson 52, Tom Latham 36, Ross Taylor 36; Kemar Roach 4/74, Shannon Gabriel 2/66, Jerome Taylor 2/73, Sulieman Benn 2/78).

West Indies: 460 (Kraigg Brathwaite 129, Darren Bravo 109, Jermaine Blackwood 63, Kirk Edwards 55, Shiv Chanderpaul 47, Denesh Ramdin 32; Ish Sodhi 4/96, Trent Boult 3/75).

--IANS/CMC

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