NZ v WI, 1st Test, Day 3, Review: Windies fightback strongly after Tom Blundell’s ton on debut

Windies finished the day on 214/2 still 172 runs adrift of the first innings deficit.

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Kraigg Brathwaite
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Kraigg Brathwaite of the Windies bats. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Windies owned the third day with a spirited fightback in the second innings after conceding a huge lead of 386 to the hosts. The match is nicely poised now going into the fourth day and it will be interesting to see the response of New Zealand. The visitors counter-attacked in the form of Shimron Hetmyer and Kieran Powell as they looked comfortable in the middle. However, the Kiwis are still ahead and it would take a monumental effort for Windies to turn the tables on them on the penultimate day of the Test match.

Tom Blundell and Trent Boult strode out to the middle in the morning with an aim to extend the lead which was already over 300. Windies, on the other hand, might have thought to wrap up the innings as quickly as possible. The last batting pair though had different ideas and frustrated the visitors. Blundell played cleverly to farm the strike and in the process, also brought up his century on debut. Boult did a great job to support him as Windies failed to scalp the final wicket and New Zealand declared on 520/9 with a lead of 386 runs.

Windies counterpunch the Kiwis

Kane Williamson and his men walked on to the field to finish the game on the day and take the lead in the two-match series. But what transpired later was expected by a very few cricket fans and a completely different Windies batting line-up showed up on the 22 yards. The openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell surprisingly attacked the bowlers. The former, especially, was brutal in his attack and smashed every bowler who came in his way.

Though Matt Henry broke the stand as he snapped up on a caught and bowled chance to dismiss Powell who made 40 off just 55 deliveries. But Brathwaite stayed put at the crease who was joined by Hetmyer who continued to hit his way through. Neil Wagner was on the receiving end this time who was taken for over 7 runs per over in his first 10 overs. Hetmyer was impressive in his shot-making which caught Kiwis off guard and expectedly it was unexpected from the visitors.

Henry though came back and again broke the partnership which was blossoming. The 20-year-old Hetmyer was sent back on a well-made 66 off just 89 deliveries as the best batsman of Windies Shai Hope walked out. Brathwaite was unscathed during all the action and went about his business to score a fighting half-century. Both saw off the day without any fuss as the visitors ended the day strongly placed on 214/2 still 172 runs adrift of their first innings deficit. Only two wickets were fallen on the day as the visitors failed to scalp the final odf New Zealand earlier.

The first session of the fourth day would be very important for both the teams as the overnight batsmen would look to continue batting the same way and New Zealand will need to make the ball talk now. The Test cricket is at its best when both the teams play to their potential and the same thing was witnessed at Basin Reserve in Wellington on a super Sunday. The bowlers of both the teams are suffering on a wicket which has flattened out considerably now and they would need to come with better plans now to bowl out Windies

Brief Scores

Windies 134/10 & 214/2 (K Brathwaite 79*, S Hetmyer 66; M Henry 2/33)

New Zealand 520/9decl (T Blundell 107*, de Grandhomme 105)

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