The West Indies made a promising start in their innings, responding to New Zealand’s formidable total of 575 for 8 declared in the third Test. The game played out at the Basin Reserve, in Wellington. Under near-perfect batting conditions, both sides wasted little time in showing off their talents.
John Campbell, pictured here opening the batting for the West Indies against England in early 2022. He put in a captain’s innings of his own, knocking 45 runs off 60 balls. His knock included seven fours, a testament to his gap-finding skills. Campbell provided a good platform for the West Indies’ chase, with a particularly impressive SR of 75.00. The absurdity of the notion is magnified by the fact that he didn’t score a single six while batting.
Brandon King, who has helped Campbell through his innings, chipped in with a fine 55 off 78 deliveries. King’s innings saw nine fours as a testament to his concentrated yet dominating intent. In doing so, he conjured the magic of 70.51 SR. His performance turned a corner and helped the West Indies respond emphatically to New Zealand’s huge first innings score. Just like his opening partner, King avoided hitting sixes.
In what proved a crucial difference in their innings, the West Indies welcomed their own boost from extras with 10 runs scored, resulting in their 89 runs. This extra capacity was critical to keeping momentum as the team continued to work toward building a highly competitive score.
On the bowling side, New Zealand was spearheaded by skipper Tom Latham and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. The duo’s all-around batting displayed their team’s full batting strength, setting the stage for their comfortable lead in this game. Having arrived at Christchurch airfield in the wee small hours of the previous morning, New Zealand’s bowlers faced a stern test as the West Indies responded positively.
New Zealand have made a superb start, reaching 110 without losing a wicket. They’ve got 23 overs without losing a wicket yet! Kemar Roach, Anderson Phillip, and Jayden Seales are the linchpins of the West Indies’ attack. They will look to put the New Zealand batsmen under extreme pressure to deny them runs in their 2nd innings.
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