New Zealand’s perseverance with their frontline bowlers paid off eventually as the visitors completed a 53-run victory over the West Indies in the last hour of the third and final Test match at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Monday.
Despite being held up by a 77-run eighth-wicket partnership between debutant Jason Holder and Shane Shillingford, the Black Caps finished off the job with Trent Boult, who did the early damage in the morning, returning with the second new ball to trap last man Jerome Taylor LBW and dismiss the home side for 254.
Boult, fellow seamer Tim Southee and off-spinner Mark Craig took three wickets each to lead the New Zealand effort which gave them the match and the series 2-1, only their second Test win at Kensington Oval and second Test series triumph in the Caribbean.
“We’re really thrilled with pulling off this series win,” New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said at the end of the match. “It was tough cricket all the way through, so we’ll enjoy this moment.”
New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson, who scored 161 not out in the second innings, took both the Man of the Match and Man of the Series honors.
Holder, who topscored with 52, and Shillingford (30 not out), gave the West Indies a slim hope of saving the match as they defied the opposition for almost two hours in a 77-run stand. Before their intervention, all seemed set for a swift finish when the regional side slumped to 144 for seven just before tea.
Any hopes the West Indies harbored of an improbable victory had disappeared in the afternoon with the demise of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Darren Bravo, the two key middle-order batsmen who resumed after the lunch interval with the responsibility resting on their shoulders of leading the home side out of the early trouble.
Craig had Chanderpaul stumped for 25 — the first time in his 20-year Test career, comprising 156 matches and 266 innings, that he had been stumped. Bravo got to 40, but departed in exactly the same manner as his first-innings dismissal, slicing a drive to Kane Williamson at gully.
In the first innings, the successful bowler was Neil Wagner. This time, though, Southee was the celebrating bowler. He had also removed West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin, who got to 29 before edging a catch to Ross Taylor at first slip.
“One of the major problems for us in this match was the inability to knock over the New Zealand lower order,” Ramdin said. “In the batting department, those who got starts for us could have pushed on, but it didn’t happen.”
McCullum’s declaration just before the start of play, setting the West Indies 308 to win, lay down the challenge to his bowlers to deliver victory and they responded almost immediately.
Boult struck the first two blows. Kraigg Braithwaite misjudged the line of an inswinging delivery and had his off-stump knocked back, while new batsman Kirk Edwards lived a charmed life before edging into the safe hands of Taylor at first slip.
Chris Gayle, who has been troubled by a back injury and struggled to find his best form in the series, was next to go, bowled for 11 off the inside edge as he aimed a big drive at Southee to reduce the West Indies to 31 for three.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely