Published: Dec 20, 2013, 09:00 AM (IST)
Edited: Dec 20, 2013, 12:52 PM (IST)
Hamilton: December 20, 2013
The West Indies removed openers Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford cheaply in the third Test Friday to have New Zealand under pressure for the first time in the series.
At tea on the second day, New Zealand were 76 for two in reply to the West Indies’ 367, and struggling to make headway against spin pair Sunil Narine and Veerasammy Permaul.
Kane Williamson was not out on 34 with Ross Taylor on 15 after both batsmen survived difficult chances. The West Indies, needing to win the Test to level the series, have taken three spinners into the match and they quickly had New Zealand tied down after new-ball bowler Darren Sammy claimed the first wicket.
The West Indies captain, on his 30th birthday, snapped up a return catch from Rutherford (10) to have New Zealand one for 18. Fulton reached 11 before he turned Narine down leg side where Sammy pulled off a sharp reflex catch standing in close at leg-slip.
Narine, brought into the side after Shane Shillingford was suspended for an illegal bowling action, had a confident leg-before shout against Taylor but replays showed a faint inside edge.
Williamson offered a sharp chance when he sent a top edge over extra-cover, where a diving Tino Best was just short of clasping the ball.
The West Indies innings ended just on lunch when they were all out for 367 after adding 78 on the second morning, with Shivnarine Chanderpaul unbeaten on 122. It was Chanderpaul’s 29th Test century as he moved past former Australian skipper Allan Border to be the sixth most prolific scorer in Test cricket with 11,199 runs. It was also his 17 unbeaten century, the most by any Test player.
Permaul (20) and Best (25) added profitable cameos at the tail of the innings. Permaul crowned his innings with a six and a four off consecutive balls from Tim Southee before being caught at second slip by Fulton off the next delivery.
But Fulton was guilty three overs later of spilling a straightforward catch from Best on four, adding to the two chances put down by Southee and one by Williamson on the opening day.
Southee finished with four for 79, the best figures for New Zealand, and Corey Anderson took three for 47 while BJ Watling took five catches behind the stumps.
Brief scores:
West Indies 367 (Shivnarine Chanderpaul 122*; Denesh ramdin 107; Tim Southee 4 for 79) lead New Zealand 76 for 2 (Kane Williamosn 34*; Sunil Narine 1 for 14) by 291 runs.
