A record-equalling 17th century by Ross Taylor had New Zealand closing in on a series sweep against the West Indies after day three of the second Test in Hamilton on Monday.
The West Indies, set a world-record target of 444 to win, were in trouble at 30 for two by stumps with two full days of play remaining.
It was New Zealand's day as they shut down the West Indies for 221 to lead by 152 on the first innings. New Zealand declared their second innings at 291 for eight, with Taylor 107 not out, and then took two top-order wickets by stumps.
Taylor joined the late Martin Crowe and current captain Kane Williamson on 17 Test centuries.The 33-year-old, who offered two chances in an otherwise majestic innings, reached the milestone driving Raymon Reifer to the boundary for only the 11th four in his 198 ball innings.Williamson was earlier out for 54 as he looked to lead New Zealand to a series sweep following the innings victory in the first Test.
Skipper Denesh Ramdin and rain came to the assistance of the T&T Red Force yesterday, as their their sixth round Digicel CWI PCL clash against the Jamaica Scorpions ended in a draw at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
Ramdin was unbeaten on 52 when the rain came, while Khan was on 17. the man doing the damage for the Jamaicans was Reynard Leveridge who grabbed three wickets for 23 runs.
Jaguars vs Volcanoes
ON a surreal fourth morning when the Guyana Jaguars played some silly cricket, the sixth round Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-day encounter between the title-holders and Windward Islands Volcanoes ended in an historic tie yesterday at the National Stadium, Providence.
Statistics had highlighted the Jaguars dominance this season, but this match shifted balance throughout its course, swinging precariously from one side to the other until the end, after the Jaguars lost their last six wickets for just 60 runs. Despite the shocking result, they Jaguars remain at the top of the table, moving to 97.2 points, having earned 10.8 from this match.
Hurricanes vs Pride
Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 10 - (www.bcacicket.org) - Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Barbados Pride battled to an exciting draw in their sixth round Digicel Regional first-class match at Warner Park today.
Needing 312 to win, Leeward Islands Hurricanes scored 286 for eight off 77 overs.
Devon Thomas hit the top score of 103.
Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was the main wicket-taker with six for 89 off 28 overs.
Montcin Hodge was caught by Justin Greaves off Warrican for 33 (57-1; 9.5 overs).
Chesney Hughes was leg before wicket by off-spinner Kenroy Williams for 17 (57-2; 10.4 overs).
Nkrumah Bonner was leg before wicket by Warrican for 16 (105-3; 23.5 overs).
Jahmar Hamilton was bowled by leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr for 16 (133-4; 32 overs).
Akeem Saunders was caught by Jonathan Carter off Warrican for 64 (241-5; 60 overs).
Tim Southee and Trent Boult had a magnificent day with bat, ball and on the field to put New Zealand in command in the second Test in Hamilton. New Zealand's new ball bowlers first had a task with the bat after Windies managed to get rid of Neil Wagner and Tom Blundell early on Sunday (December 10). Even though Southee has a reputation for being a big hitter, Windies didn't anticipate an assault from Boult.
The No.11 signalled his intentions off just the third ball he faced when he moved to the leg side and ramped one over the slip cordon. He brought out the ramp once again, this time off Miguel Cummins and the result was a six. Southee soon joined in the action when he pulled one off Gabriel, that took a top edge to sail over the boundary.
At one stage, Boult managed to collect four fours and one six in the space of ten deliveries much to the delight of the small crowd. The pair added 61 runs to frustrate the visitors as New Zealand finished with 373. Southee then came back to get rid of Kieron Powell in the very first over to peg the visitors back early. Post lunch, Kraigg Brathwaite received a huge reprieve in the third over of the session when he edged Trent Boult behind to the slip cordon. Tom Latham though misjudged the catch and went the other way initially as the ball went to the boundary.
Captain Paul Palmer stroked his way to a classy, maiden first-class hundred to keep Jamaica Scorpions in total control of the sixth-round regional four-day match against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force entering today's final day at Sabina Park.
But the Scorpions will have an eye out for possible showers after rain truncated play yesterday, making only 56 overs possible.
When bad light forced the umpires to call off proceedings last afternoon at 4:42 after two prior rain interruptions, the Red Force were 21-1 in their second innings — still 271 runs from avoiding an innings defeat.
Jaguars vs Volcanoes
A masterful 95 from the experienced Devon Smith failed to prevent the Guyana Jaguars from being 61 runs away from their fifth victory of the season when the penultimate day of their sixth round of their CWI Digicel Regional four-day Championship game against the Windwards Volcanoes came to an end at Providence yesterday.
Smith reached the boundary seven times from 185 balls before falling five runs away from his 27th regional century and fourth for the season and shared in a fighting 70-run stand with his 26-year-old nephew Dennis Smith who contributed 28 with five fours from 73 balls.
Smith reached 612 runs from six matches but only Shane Shillingford, who made 26 from 64 balls with three fours reached double figures yesterday for the last placed team.
Jaguars, set 165 were 104-4 with Vishaul Singh the only Guyanese with over 400 runs, unbeaten on 48. With him was Anthony Bramble on 10. The Volcanoes resumed on 127-6 with a lead of 50 and Devon and Dennis Smith started with plenty of positivity and added 70 for the seventh wicket.
The 36-year-old Devon Smith, who began the day on 49, stroked Permaul gloriously through cover for four to post his 56th half-century at this level, while Dennis offered excellent support as former Windwards Islands under-19 opener played some lovely drives.
Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 9 - (www.bcacicket.org) - Barbados Pride, with a first innings lead of 148, were 110 for four off 33 overs in their second innings - an overall lead of 258 - at the close of play on the third day of the sixth round Digicel Regional first-class match against Leeward Islands at Warner Park today.
The not out batsmen were Kevin Stoute on 14 and Kenroy Williams, 15.
Anthony Alleyne was caught by Rahkeem Cornwall off fast bowler Gavin Tonge for 13 (18-1; 4.5 overs).
Shayne Moseley was caught by wicket-keeper Jahmar Hamiton off medium-pacer Devon Thomas for 16 (37-2; 13.4 overs).
Shamarh Brooks was caught and bowled by pacer Jeremiah Louis for 29 (70-3; 23.3 overs).
And Jonathan Carter was leg before wicket by off-spinner Cornwall for 22 (84-4; 26.5 overs).
Bowling: Tonge 6-3-10-1, Louis 8-0-31-1, Thomas 6-2-11-1, Berridge 5-1-17-0, Cornwall 6-0-35-1, Warde 2-1-6-0.
In an absorbing day of Test cricket in Hamilton, Windies fought back in commendable fashion to take the upper hand against New Zealand in the second Test. After getting battered in the first Test and losing their captain for the second, Windies knew the task was going to be tougher to just compete in the second game, let alone push for a win. And when Jeet Raval and Kane Williamson guided them to a strong position in the second session with minimal effort, it appeared as if the visitors would surrender meekly.
But once Williamson and Raval fell in quick succession, the seamers took control and exerted more pressure on the home side. Colin de Grandhomme briefly threatened with a rapid half-century but Shannon Gabriel put his no-ball woes behind him to get rid of him with the new ball that left the hosts precariously placed at 286/7 at stumps on Saturday (December 9).
