A valiant century by Darren Bravo frustrated New Zealand’s attempts to wrap up the first Test against the West Indies on the fourth morning at Dunedin’s University Oval yesterday.
Bravo was unbeaten on 104 in a stoic performance as the West Indies went to lunch at 235-4, still 161 runs short of making New Zealand bat again.
New Zealand sensed an early end to the Test when they claimed the key wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul among two early dismissals in the morning session and with the West Indies having a thin tail.
Photo: AFP
However, they have been unable to dislodge the stubborn Bravo, who brought up his fifth Test century in partnership with Narsingh Deonarine, who was not-out 24.
After resuming the day at 168-2, the West Indies’ remote hopes of saving the Test took a decisive hit when Marlon Samuels and Chanderpaul were removed in the first eight overs of the day.
Samuels lasted four overs and added six runs to his overnight score, before he chipped a full-length delivery straight back to the hands of New Zealand’s chief strike weapon, Tim Southee, to be gone for 23.
His removal brought veteran Chanderpaul to the crease — but the 39-year-old, who top-scored with 76 in the West Indies’ first innings, was unable to repeat the effort.
He made only one before he was removed LBW for the second time by a left-arm quick in the match, this time to Neil Wagner, after falling to Trent Boult in the first innings.
Chanderpaul appealed the decision, but the video replay showed the ball would have hit the top of leg stump.
For New Zealand, Southee, Wagner, Boult and Ish Sodhi have a wicket each in the second innings.
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