NZ v WI, 2nd Test, Review: Hosts trounce Windies by 240 runs, win the series by 2-0

New Zealand has defeated Windies by a whopping 240 runs in the second and final Test match at Seddon Park in Hamilton. The writing was on the wall for the visitors on the third day itself when they lost two wickets within eight overs of play. Though a sterling fightback was expected from them as they have often come from behind this year. However, the Kiwis stuck to their task and never let them get away to win the two-match series 2-0.

The overnight unbeaten batsmen Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope, the two of the best in the line-up, were the only hope for the team from the Caribbean nation. But the former failed to keep a shortish length delivery down only to be latched by the gully fielder Kane Williamson off Trent Boult. The left-arm seamer also completed 200 Test wickets in the process which is a huge achievement for a bowler. The early wicket of the skipper didn’t help the cause of the visitors as Hope was the next to follow off Neil Wagner who used the short ball tactics perfectly to leave them reeling at 68/4.

Things went from bad to worse when Sunil Ambris was hit on the wrist by Wagner who bowled a well-directed short delivery which rose up to the batsman’s chest. Unfortunately, he walked off in pain and subsequently was also ruled out of the ODI series to follow with a fractured forearm. He was replaced by Shane Dowrich whose torrid tour continued as he bagged a second-ball duck after trying to fend a short-ball only to pop it to the short-leg fielder.

Roston Chase was the only batsman who stood tall amongst all others and scored a decent half-century to reduce the margin of the defeat. He stitched a partnership of 78 runs with Raymon Reifer which was the only period where Windies looked in some sort of command. But Wagner came back to break the frustrating stand by scalping Chase which eventually opened up both ends for them to attack. Chase made 64 runs and was the highest run-getter in the line-up. Soon the tail was cleaned up by Mitchell Santner and Tim Southee as the visitors capitulated for just 203 runs thereby losing the match by 240 runs.

The target of 444 was never going to be gunned down but the fight was expected from them which was never on display in the Test series itself. New Zealand, on the other hand, had a near- perfect game and the series who looked in total control right from the word go barring a couple of sessions when they were in trouble. But every time they were in tatters, someone or the other put their hand up to bail them out of it. While Wagner broke the back of the opposition by picking three wickets, Boult, Southee and Santner scalped two each.

What happened earlier in the match?

After inserting the hosts to bat first, Windies had them reeling five down under 200 but the lower order contributions propelled New Zealand to 373 which proved to be more than enough. The visitors, in reply, was shot out for just 221 despite the half-century from their skipper Brathwaite courtesy the four-wicket haul from Boult. The second innings was owned by Ross Taylor who notched up his 17th ton and equalled the record of most centuries in the format for New Zealand as they declared with a lead of 443 with more than two days left in the game.

The early declaration made sense as Windies never threatened to take the game away from the hosts and lost wickets by paying some irresponsible shots. But in the end, it would be fair to say that New Zealand were too good for them in their own den and would look forward now to the ODI series which is expected to be closely fought. Ross Taylor was awarded Man of the Match and surprisingly, there was no Man of the Series.

Brief Scores

New Zealand 373 (J Raval 84; S Gabriel 4/119) & 291/8decl (R Taylor 107*; M Cummins 3/69)

Windies 221 (K Brathwaite 66; T Boult 4/73) & 203 (R Chase 64; N Wagner 3/42, M Santner 2/13)

Result: New Zealand won by 240 runs

Man of the Match: Ross Taylor