It has been quite some time since a West Indies opening pair has taken on the opposition attack. On Friday, Brandon King and John Campbell batted without any care or concern to produce their first century partnership as an opening pair. West Indies made a spirited reply to New Zealand’s huge 575 for eight declared in the third Test at Mount Maunganui. By stumps on the second day, the visitors were 110 for no loss with King on 55 and Campbell on 45.
It is only the sixth century opening partnership for the West Indies in 11 years. They are still trailing by 465 with three days of play left but, in such matches, one can’t look at the scoreboard too much. One needs to put his head down and keep going. By close of play on the second day, King had managed to bring up his second half-century in Test cricket.
King and Campbell played steady cricket and didn’t seem to be weighed down by the task ahead of them. They stayed alert to the loose deliveries and punished them with alacrity. They were on top of the New Zealand attack. On a track which had help for the pacers, both teams wasted the new ball on a green pitch.
The West Indies bowlers, who were at the receiving end on the first day, were a transformed lot on Friday. They looked a different breed as they displayed great discipline with the cherry. Justin Greaves had Kane Williamson (31), arguably one of the best batters in the world, with a beauty.
The visitors were also battling injury and health issues. Kemar Roach was out with a hamstring injury and Roston Chase bowled 25 overs without a break to cover up for Roach. Batter Shai Hope is another major concern for the Windies as he spent the entire day at the hotel and might not be allowed to bat at his usual No.4 spot.
Ojay Shields and Tagenarine Chanderpaul also carried niggles so when Greaves had to step away for a bit in the second session, West Indies had no subs left and had to rope in local Tauranga boy, 19-year-old Sebastian Heath, who is also registered with the Denmark cricket team, to field for them.
Despite all these handicaps, the seven wickets West Indies took on Friday showed that they had done their homework the previous night. This was followed by a composed opening partnership and augurs well for the latter batters.
West Indies allowed only one man to score more than fifty runs on the second day. Southpaw Rachin Ravindra made an unbeaten 72. Opener Devon Conway continued from where he left and went on to make 227 before a ball nipped back and kept low to trap the left-handed batter. Conway, who looked a bit tired after his marathon 508-minute innings, failed to negotiate the attack on Friday.
It was a much more appropriate outcome given the conditions. Balls on a good length continued to misbehave. West Indies’ bowlers were right there with him. Seales had roused himself to go one-on-one against Daryl Mitchell. Greaves put down a straightforward catch off Mitchell at second slip in the 127th over. The hosts posted their fifth-highest Test total at home, 575 for 8 declared
Things could be different on the third day as Chase’s off breaks were already getting grip and turn and bounce. Ajaz Patel will have a lot to say and this match remains interestingly poised, not to mention one of a kind, the first in New Zealand history to include two century opening stands in the first innings.
Brief scores: New Zealand (1st innings) 575/8 declared (Tom Latham 137, Devon Conway 227, Kane Williamson 31, Rachin Ravindra 72 no, Glenn Phillips 29; Jaydean Seales 2/100, Anderson Phillip 2/154, Justin Greaves 2/83) vs West Indies (1st innings): 110/0 (John Campbell 45, Brandon King 55).
