NZ v WI, 1st Test, Day 3 - 5 Talking Points

A competitive day of cricket which saw a debutant score his maiden hundred at home and some much-needed fight back from the Windies side. Neil Wagner failed to carry on from where he had left in the first innings but they never gave up on the prospect of getting the visitors out inside three days.

The Kiwis declared their inning on 520/9 before grabbing two wickets at the cost of 214 runs. Shai Hope is unbeaten on 21 and will look to pile up more runs before the Blackcaps start making inroads towards the visitor’s batting lineup. Let’s take a look at the five talking points from the day’s play-

Tom Blundell’s hundred on debut at home

27-year-old Wellington-born Tom Blundell couldn’t have asked for a better start to his Test career. A hundred at home on your debut Test sounds like a fairytale. The batter was unbeaten on fifty-plus runs at the end of 2nd day’s play and made sure he add more to the Kiwi total and in the process reaches his first ton.

The wicketkeeper-batsman remained unbeaten on 107, scoring 13 fours and a six. After stitching a stand with Collin Grandhomme, Blundell did well to manage few good hits to take the home team’s total past 500.

New Zealand post a massive total

After bowling the Windies out for nothing but peanuts, the hosts flexed their muscles, the other day. It was Grandhomme, who stole the breeze yesterday and today it was the turn of the newcomer Blundell. Windies bowlers had to wait for the wickets.

Kemar Roach scalped three wickets in his 22 overs while Miguel Cummins chipped in with two. The visitors failed to bowl the Kiwis out and now faces the threat of an innings defeat.

Braithwaite-Powell enjoy solid stand

After being wrapped up for 134 in the first innings, West Indies started on a good note, scoring 72 runs for the first wicket. Kieran Powell looked promising till he stayed at the crease. Powell made a 55-ball 40 before giving a ‘lolly’ to Matt Henry.

Kraigg Braithwaite, at the other end, went for the loose ones and found seven boundaries and a six as he went back to the pavilion unbeaten on 79 at stumps. The umpires brought out the light metre quite a number of times towards the fag end of the day before calling it a day.

Brathwaite’s master-class

The Windies needed someone to turn to. They trail by 172 runs now. The score looks gettable all thanks to Braithwaite. He showed immense amount of patience and application against some good bowling. He forged a 96-run stand with Shimron Hetmyer and ensured that he comes back tomorrow for more.

The Windies will look to go past the 400-mark and start building a target after taking a lead. But the goald looks a bit far for now as they will have to see off the opening hour of tomorrow’s play against a spirited bowling attack.

Wagner and Co. sweat hard

Matt Henry was New Zealand’s only wicket holder in the 2nd innings, as he removed the opener Powell and then a well-settled Hetmyer to disturb the top order of the tourist side. A few close chances went down begging as Neil Wagner and other tried to have a crack at the opposition batsmen.

Mitch Santner was impressive.He bowled 10 overs giving away just 18 runs and come very close to kissing the sticks with his drift and variation. The Kiwi bowlers will look to take the important wicket of Braithwaite tomorrow morning before they start milking the pacers.