Ross Taylor’s first Test double-century helped New Zealand to 609 for nine declared before his bowlers reduced the West Indies to 67 for two as the hosts took firm control on day two of the first Test in Dunedin, New Zealand, yesterday.
Taylor produced a controlled 217 not out and combined in a string of productive partnerships to push New Zealand past 600 for just the fourth time in their Test history.
It was their highest score against the West Indies, surpassing the 543 for three the 1972 team scored in Guyana, and the highest Test score in Dunedin, eclipsing the 586 for seven New Zealand made against Sri Lanka in 1997.
“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet, maybe tonight it will,” Taylor, whose previous best score was an unbeaten 154 not out against England in Manchester in 2008, told Radio Sport. “I think my state of mind out there, I was just trying to bat the same tempo, be pretty relaxed and play as straight as possible. I actually feel like I’m still batting out there so hopefully it will sink in a bit more tonight.”
After the declaration, Trent Boult had Kirk Edwards caught at second slip by Peter Fulton for a duck before Tim Southee dismissed Kieran Powell caught behind for seven to reduce the tourists to 24 for two.
Darren Bravo (37 not out) and Marlon Samuels (14 not out) combined to settle the innings and guide their side to the close, albeit 542 runs in arrears.
Taylor curbed his typically attacking instincts yesterday against a bowling attack far more disciplined than they had been on day one, when they won the toss and chose to bowl on the green-tinged pitch.
Such was Taylor’s control at the crease, he did not hit a six in his entire 317-ball, 491-minute innings.
The 29-year-old, a renowned six-hitter in limited-overs cricket with a penchant for throwing away his wicket by hitting across the line over midwicket, said he had never batted better for his country.
“I think probably Manchester comes close to it,” Taylor added. “Both innings I didn’t feel great leading into it and I had to exorcise some of those demons. Mentally, I think the way I structured it, it was my best innings. All through the day it was just about ticking off little things. Getting to 150, then my highest Test score, the highest score on the ground then Smithy [Ian Smith] told me that I’d never beat his 174, so I will have to remind him of that.”
Taylor shared in five partnerships of more than 60 runs.
The largest of 195 with captain Brendon McCullum (113) was a New Zealand record for the fourth wicket against the West Indies, surpassing the 189 runs Mathew Sinclair and Nathan Astle compiled in late 1999.
The hosts had resumed the day’s play on 367 for three after Taylor and McCullum had completed centuries just before the close on Tuesday.
McCullum was bowled by a Darren Sammy delivery that nipped back and hit off stump to leave the hosts 380 for four, before Corey Anderson was caught behind for a duck before lunch.
Taylor and Watling (41) then shared in an 84-run partnership before the wicketkeeper was well-caught by Edwards at second slip, when Tino Best got a delivery to pop off a length and New Zealand were 469 for six.
Pace bowler Southee was dismissed three runs later for two, well caught by Bravo at slip after he prodded at a Narsingh Deonarine delivery, before Taylor and Ish Sodhi (35) combined for a 76-run partnership.
Taylor, who had been joined by Neil Wagner, hit his 23rd boundary to move to 199 before paddling the ball behind square for three runs to reach the milestone and prompt a standing ovation from the crowd at University Oval.
He was the 13th New Zealand batsman to score a double century in Test cricket.
Wagner attacked after tea, blasting two sixes and three boundaries before he was run out for 37, which prompted McCullum to declare about 25 minutes into the final session.
“We could have easily been bowled out for 450, which would have been a good total, but not deserved of yesterday’s performance,” Taylor said. “Those little partnerships of 50 or 60 are always valuable and I’m sure for the rest of the series, those guys all got starts and hopefully they can continue later on.”
ADVANTAGE ATLETICO: Well off the pace in La Liga, the Copa del Rey represents Atletico Madrid’s best chance of silverware this season Atletico Madrid on Thursday hammered Copa del Rey holders Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their semi-final. After an Eric Garcia own-goal sent Diego Simeone’s side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead by halftime. Barca defender Garcia was sent off in the final stages, with Atletico maintaining their significant advantage on the record 32-time winners, which they take into the second leg at the Camp Nou on March 3. Both sides missed good chances in the second half, with Barca’s Pau Cubarsi having a goal disallowed before Garcia was sent off
Dasun Shanaka hammered the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20Is as the cohosts thrashed Oman by 105 runs at the World Cup yesterday in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, for their second win in Group B. The 2014 champions piled up 225-5, the highest total of the tournament, before restricting an outclassed Oman to 120-9. The 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem waged a lone battle for Oman, compiling an unbeaten 53 to become the oldest player to score a 50 in T20 World Cups. Having promoted himself up the order and under pressure to deliver, Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka smashed a 19-ball half-century. It has been
Kawhi Leonard on Sunday scored 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds and made four steals to lead the Los Angeles Clippers in a lopsided 115-96 victory at Minnesota. The 34-year-old forward, a two-time NBA champion, matched the second-best road scoring effort of his career as the Clippers improved to 25-27. “Just being aggressive. My teammates trust me,” Leonard said. “Every moment when I touch the ball — assist, shooting the basketball or getting a rebound — I’m just trying to help the team win.” Leonard made three steals in a row at the start of the contest. “Just wanted to come out early in the
FLOP TO CONQUEROR: It was sweet vindication for Sam Darnold, who played for four NFL teams before his debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate win The Seattle Seahawks on Sunday coasted to Super Bowl glory, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize. Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy. “It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Darnold said. The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display and kicker Jason Myers’
RSS