Thursday, March 28, 2024

3rd Test in the balance

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The tempo?of the third Test changed as markedly as the weather from the second day to the third yesterday.
Under low, grey clouds on Friday, Chris Gayle, Kraigg Brathwaite and Kirk Edwards rattled along at just over four runs an over in posting 169  for two for the West Indies in response to New Zealand’s modest first day 293.
They counted a couple of sixes and 22 fours between them against indifferent bowling on a favourable pitch until rain cut them short 20 minutes after lunch.
The West Indies held the upper hand in the match that will decide a series, presently level at 1-1 after two widely contrasting results in the first two Tests.
They still did by the end of a bright, sunny day but were made to battle desperately hard throughout, confined to 19 fours and a run rate of 2.69 an over.
Errors in the field cost them valuable wickets when New Zealand, who ended the day on 123 for three, batted a second time, 24 runs in arrears. They could be the difference between winning and losing.
The Black Caps were clearly aware of the challenge they faced. They regrouped overnight; from the start it was clear that their bowlers had snapped out of their previous lethargy.
Led by the probing, left-arm, round the wicket control of Neil Wagner, the strong, barrel-chested quickie, they severely tested the patience of batsmen happier banging boundaries.
Wagner and his pace accomplices, Tim Southee and Trent Boult, kept eating through the West Indies order so that the scores were almost on parity by the time the innings ended at the tea break, all out 317, a lead of 24.
Wagner kept going for 26.4 overs on the day, conceding 53 runs and adding the wickets of Darren Bravo (23), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (15) and, more predictably, Sulieman Benn (1) to Brathwaite’s the previous day.
Southee accounted for Edwards, who spooned a well-taken catch off the leading edge behind the bowler after adding 16 to his overnight 42
There was déjà vu about Bravo’s dismissal, a sliced drive to gully. Chanderpaul’s was unluckier, a gloved tickle down the leg-side to the keeper.
In the second session, captain Denesh Ramdin (45) and debutant Jason Holder (an impressive 38 that hints at a future as a worthy all-rounder) avoided a rout in a fifth wicket partner of 37.
Once Ramdin was lbw to Boult in the first over with the second new ball, Holder led the way with handsome strokes both sides of the wicket before he gloved a bouncer from Jimmy Neesham, the third seamer, to the keeper. Not unexpectedly, the last three wickets could only raise four runs; it is a recurring theme.
For a team likely to need to bat for victory on a last day pitch, 24 was a negligible lead.
The final session provided another twist.
But for the several missed chances, two by Ramdin off the solid No.3, Kane Williamson, and another off captain Brendon McCullum, who also got the better of a debatable, reviewed lbw verdict, the West Indies would have anticipated victory today.
Instead, at the end of the extended day, New Zealand were ahead by 99 with plenty of work ahead for both teams.
Kemar Roach, as threatening as he has been with every passing spell, accounted for the left-handed openers Tom Latham, without scoring, to a miscued pull, and Hamish Rutherford for 19 to his usual method of dismissal, snicking a catch to Ramdin; 56 for two.
By then, Williamson, 10, had edged a clear chance off Roach past the flat-footed Ramdin to his right. Later, at 42, he was well out of his ground when Shane Shillingford’s off-break eluded the keeper down the leg-side.
The captain has had a rough time with the gloves in the series. These were two crucial errors. Williamson ended the day 58, an ominous presence. McCullum was 23 and he should have been given out third ball.
The towering Holder struck with his first delivery when introduced for a below par Jerome Taylor. His first ball was a lifter that Ross Taylor, the linchpin of the batting, sparred to second slip, a prized first Test wicket.
New Zealand were shaky at 68 for three when McCullum replaced Taylor. Bowler and every one behind the bat – and in the stands as well – bellowed an lbw appeal as Holder brought his third ball back to take him on the front pad.
On the inevitable review, Hawkeye showed the ball hitting the target. It also placed McCullum’s pad outside off-stump when he was struck so umpire Gould’s not out decision stood. The question was whether he was intending a shot but with bat well behind bat, it was obvious he wasn’t, in other words, out.
Holder continued asking questions with his control and bounce but Benn presented too many wayward deliveries, either too short or too full, to pose problems. The West Indies need him to be better today.

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