Dunedin: Darren Bravo provided stubborn resistance to New Zealand’s bowlers bringing up his maiden Test double century to ensure West Indies made the hosts bat again and sent the first Test at University Oval in Dunedin into a fifth and final day.
Bravo, whose previous highest test score was 195 against Bangladesh in 2011, ended yesterday’s fourth day on 210 not out after he had guided the visitors to 443 for six in their second innings, a lead of 47 runs.
West Indies captain Darren Sammy, although still hampered by a hamstring injury sustained while bowling, remained unbeaten on 44 after he and Bravo had put on a quick-fire 80-run partnership.
“It has been hard work, I guess that’s what Test cricket is,” New Zealand legspinner Ish Sodhi told Radio Sport of the day in which the home side’s bowlers created many opportunities only for potential catches to flash just wide of fielders.
The hosts also did not help themselves by dropping two difficult chances throughout the day.
New Zealand had high hopes of pushing for victory yesterday after they had asked the visitors to follow on before tea on the third day when they dismissed West Indies for 213 in their first innings, well short of the home side’s 609-9 declared.
Victory appeared all but certain when New Zealand took two early wickets yesterday, dismissing Marlon Samuels for 23, caught and bowled by Tim Southee, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul for just one to leave the visitors struggling on 185-4.
REUTERS
