Windies Facing Mammoth Defeat
Mon, Jun 24, '02
The West Indies will need a dramatic turnaround in their
fortunes if they are to even earn a draw in the first Cable &
Wireless Test against New Zealand or prevent the rampant Kiwis from
winning their first Test match in the Caribbean in their fourth
visit.
Set the daunting task of achieving a monumental 474 for victory,
after New Zealand were dismissed for 243 in their second innings,
the Windies were five without loss when stumps were drawn after an
absorbing third day?s play. Wavell Hinds was unbeaten on four while
Chris Gayle was still to score.
Already in a commanding position at the start of play with an
overall lead of 234 with nine second-innings wickets intact, the
Kiwis put themselves in an almost impregnable position after
batting for almost the entire day.
The only bright spot for the West Indies was the bowling of
left-arm fast medium bowler Pedro Collins, who captured his first
five-wicket haul in Test cricket in his 12th Test match, much to
the delight of the small gathering of spectators on his home soil.
The homesters had threatened briefly to claw back into the game
after the Black Caps were in a spot of bother at 88 for five, after
lunch, but once again skipper Stephen Fleming came to the rescue -
this time in a supportive role with the more attacking Nathan
Astle.
In the first innings, Fleming and wicketkeeper Robbie Hart had
shared a face-saving 108-run partnership for the sixth wicket when
New Zealand were in dire straits at 117 for five. This time around,
it was the turn of Astle and Fleming, who added a vital 76 in 96
minutes to spoil whatever thoughts Carl Hooper and his men had of
getting back into the game.
The two had joined forces following the dismissal of Craig
McMillan, who once again failed to get into his strides.
Making full use of some charitable half-volleys from fast medium
bowler Adam Sanford, who was surprisingly introduced just after
lunch, replacing skipper Hooper who had a wicket in his previous
over on either side of the interval, Astle tore into the
Dominican-born, hitting him for 18 runs, including three spanking
fours through the off-side and the other a pull through midwicket.
This over set the tone for the partnership as Astle continued in
his attacking vein which saw Sanford?s three overs costing 35 runs
before Hooper was forced to return to the attack to calm down the
proceedings somewhat.
Fleming, who was reportedly suffering from stiff neck and opted to
bat at number seven, also got into the act, flicking Sanford
through midwicket and pulling Collins through square leg while
Astle reached 50 in 75 minutes off 51 balls with the aid of nine
fours. The 50-partnership was also realised in 44 minutes.
The attacking Astle was eventually undone by Collins for 77 which
was laced with 11 fours in 140 minutes off 112 balls.
Collins should have claimed his fifth wicket shortly afterwards but
Brian Lara failed to hold on to an edge from wicketkeeper Robbie
Hart before he had scored.
New Zealand?s lead was already past the 400 mark at tea, taken at
171 for six with Fleming on 27 and Hart five.
Sanford returned to claim the wicket of Fleming after he had pulled
the previous delivery through square leg for four - Wavell Hinds
taking a spectacular catch on the deep backward square leg boundary
as the New Zealand captain departed for 34.
Unlike the West Indies tail, the New Zealanders showed great
fighting qualities with Hart, who hit an unbeaten 57 in the first
innings, again showing grit and determination in his 24 while last
man Ian Butler also hit 26, both falling victims to Collins for his
fifth and sixth wickets.
Hart was caught at square leg by Hinds while Butler edged Collins
to wicketkeeper Jacobs.
The New Zealanders had earlier added 67 in the morning session
while losing the wickets of opener Lou Vincent, adjudged lbw to
Collins for two with the addition of just seven runs; Chris Harris
(19), lbw to Darren Powell after hitting the bowler for the only
six of the match to date, and nightwatchman Daryl Tuffey, caught by
Gayle at slip off Hooper, on the stroke of lunch, after sticking
around for a dour 31.
Collins? figures of six for 76, bettered his previous best of four
for 78 against Sri Lanka in the 2001-2002 tour.