ATG World Championship - New Zealand v West Indies

 


New Zealand advanced to the final of the World Test Championship, but bad weather at Dunedin meant they were denied victory v West Indies. 

On a slow paced wicket on which batting was rarely fluent, Sutcliffe and Williamson put on 180 for New Zealand's 2nd wicket. Williamson went on to score an uncomplicated 128. On reflection the Kiwis might concede their batting approach was laboured on day 2. They were eventually out for 428 but took their time getting there. Malcolm Marshall bowled beautifully for 5-54. 

West Indies were 101-2 at lunch on day 3 but subsided to 237 all out. Shane Bond took 4-50 off 24 overs, all bowled. 

New Zealand had a 1st inns lead of 191, but Turner bagged a pair after a rich vein of form. Sutcliffe was hit in his face by a Sobers' short ball when 33, but battled bravely to an unbeaten 58 (to go with his 1st inns 79) before the declaration at 4.40pm: 122-2, a target for West Indies of 314. 

The visitors lost 4 wickets before the close. Sadly, day 5 was cursed by rain and bad light (there was no play till 1pm). Between the showers, West Indies made 135-5, Sobers 51no in 195 mins, before the darkness drew in. A scarcely deserved draw for a disappointing West Indies team, but more evidence of New Zealand's class and resilience.

New Zealand 1st Innings 428-10 (149.4 Ov)
KS Williamson 128, B Sutcliffe 79, CL Cairns 60, MD Marshall 5-54, LR Gibbs 2-74, GS Sobers 2-78

West Indies 1st Innings 237-10 (1095. Ov)
CG Greenidge 71, BC Lara 34, WW Hall, 30, SE Bond 4-50, RJ Hadlee 2-37

New Zealand 2nd Innings 122-2 (40 Ov)
B Sutcliffe 58*, MD Crowe 37*

West Indies 2nd Innings 135-5 (64 Ov)
GS Sobers 51*, RJ Hadlee 3-18

Match Drawn
Man of the Match: KS Williamson




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