New Zealand v Windies, 2nd Test, Day 1 - 5 Talking Points

Both the sides will go back to their respective dressing rooms with ample amount of satisfaction. But the way Windies made a comeback after being ordinary initially, is certainly one of the talking points from day 1 of the second Test match between the two sides in Hamilton. The Kiwis were 154/1 at one stage but now finds themselves at 286/7.

Tomorrow’s day will be crucial for both the sides going forward but there has been rain forecast for the next two days, which makes every session from here on very interesting. Let us take a look at the five talking points from day 1 of the second Test match-

Raval rumble at Hamilton

Gujarat-born Jeet Raval missed out on scoring his maiden Test hundred but did enough to help the Blackcaps get a good start. He along with Tom Latham put on a 65-run first wicket stand and looked unruffled by the seaming conditions. Raval scored 15 boundaries before nicking one to the wicketkeeper. The left-handed opener is also the top scorer (84 runs) for the Kiwis on the opening day of the second Test.

Grandhomme’s entertaining fifty

All-rounder Colin de Grandhomme is in brutal form and he is making it count with every passing day. The 31-year old scored his second Test fifty and added valuable runs to the team total. Harare-born Grandhomme started the series with a hundred in the first Test and a fifty here will give the hosts lot of hope in the coming days. The batter witnessed a few quick wickets going down in the middle but never lost focus and composure. His 63-ball 58 was entertaining till it lasted.

Shannon Gabriel scalps three

The Windies bowled 10 no-balls on the first day of the Hamilton Test and out of those Shannon Gabriel had five to his name. But the 29-year-old, veteran of 31 Tests, turned things around in a rapid manner and fetched three wickets in his 20 overs outing. Gabriel got the big fish Raval apart from scalping the wickets of  Mitch Santner and Grandhomme. He ended the day with figures of 3/83.

Williamson-Raval stitch a solid stand

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson didn’t look at peace before lunch and it took him 18 balls to score his first run post the session break. But he along with opener Raval forged an 89-run stand to take the hosts to a strong position. The Windies found it difficult to trouble the batters after an initial burst. Williamson made 43, scoring five boundaries and their stand has been one of the major talking points from day 1.

Windies impressive on Day 1

The visitors failed to make good use of the seaming conditions initially as the New Zealand openers- Raval and Latham milked the bowlers without much trouble. But the tourists came back hard in the contest and went through their oppositions’ batting line up as the Kiwis lost four wickets for just 35 runs in the middle overs. Windies will look to wrap up Tom Blundell early tomorrow and floor the hosts before they can pile up a massive total.