New Zealand vs West Indies 2nd Test Preview
New Zealand vs West Indies 2nd Test Preview | New Zealand tour of West Indies 2012 | Digicel Series 2012
West Indies would take on New Zealand in the 2nd Test match of the New Zealand tour of West Indies 2012. West Indies need to win in the second test match against New Zealand to clinch the series. Sabina Park, Jamaica is the venue, the action gets underway on Thursday and the hosts start favourites. West Indies won the first test by nine wickets in Antigua where Chris Gayle scored 150 and 64 (not out) and Kieran Powell also scored a first innings century. With the ball, eight wickets for Sunil Narine earned the man of the match award and Kemar Roach finished with a total of seven victims. New Zealand put together innings’ of 351 and 272 but they were overhauled on Day 5 as West Indies needing just 102 for victory in the second knock, breezed past the finishing line in less than 20 overs. The teams met in the first two ODI’s at this ground and WI won the first by nine wickets (D/L) and the second by 55 runs. Gayle scored 63 not out and 125 in those matches to mark his return to international cricket on his home ground.
New Zealand:
New Zealand have just one win to show for their efforts on this tour so far, victory in a single ODI in a series they lost 4-1. West Indies earlier took the T20′s 2-0 and now bid to repeat that scoreline in the five day format as we move on to Sabina Park. Blackcaps pace attack look rather ordinary with Chris Martin being the lone seamer who seemed to hit the right areas. Bracewell did manage a couple of wickets but they were of tailenders and the West Indian top order played him with ease. Debutant Neil Wagner was far from a full time test seamer and the youngster has to be moulded properly before he can be tested at the international level. The experienced left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori will be the trump card in the bowling department and even though he took just one wicket from his 51 overs, his six wickets against the President’s XI will keep the Kiwis optimistic. Ravi Rampaul is out and Fidel Edwards is called up as a replacement although Tino Best is another option for a starting place. New Zealand could shake up the bowling attack if Trent Boult has recovered from injury that kept him out of the first test. Wicketkeeper BJ Watling also missed out through injury in Antigua so watch the media for confirmed Black Caps team news. New Zealand have just one win to show for their efforts on this tour so far, victory in a single ODI in a series they lost 4-1. West Indies earlier took the T20′s 2-0 and now they repeat the scoreline in the five day format as we move on to Sabina Park.
West Indies:
West Indies posted a total of 522 and followed it up with an effortless 102 run chase inside 20 overs, thanks to some incredible batting by the C Gayle who struck his 14th test ton scoring an aggressive 150 and then wrapping up the test match with a an unbeaten 64. He was well supported by K Powell, who made his maiden test century scoring a patient 134, the Guyanese batsman Asad Fudadin who notched up 55 and the impressive Narsingh Deonarine scored a well paced 79. These four would again hope to replicate their formidable show in the closing test of the tour. The most recent test match played here saw West Indies lose to India by 63 runs 12 months ago. It was a pretty low scoring game with India making totals of 246 and 252 either side of West Indies poor first innings total of 173. Set 326 for victory, West Indies battled away but came up short.
Teams
West Indies Squad:
DJG Sammy*, D Ramdin†, AB Barath, TL Best, S Chanderpaul, N Deonarine, FH Edwards, AB Fudadin, CH Gayle, SP Narine, KOA Powell, KAJ Roach, MN Samuels
New Zealand Squad:
LRPL Taylor*, TA Boult, DAJ Bracewell, DG Brownlie, DR Flynn, MJ Guptill, BB McCullum, CS Martin, TS Nethula, TG Southee, CFK van Wyk†, DL Vettori, N Wagner, BJ Watling, KS Williamson
For more cricinfo on this tour: New Zealand tour of West Indies 2012
