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The West Indies Test squad made a strong statement on the opening day of the three-match series against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. After captain Roston Chase won the toss and elected to bowl first under overcast skies, the visitors capitalized, restricting the Black Caps to a vulnerable 231 for 9 by stumps.
New Zealand Middle Order Fights for Survival
The day was defined by disciplined, relentless bowling from the West Indies pace attack, who consistently took wickets when partnerships looked threatening.
- Disastrous Start: New Zealand suffered an early blow with opener Devon Conway dismissed cheaply for a duck by the experienced Kemar Roach in the third over.
- Williamson’s Anchor: Star batsman Kane Williamson anchored the early innings, compiling a composed 52 runs off 102 deliveries. He partnered with captain Tom Latham in a vital 93-run second-wicket stand, steering the team away from immediate peril.
- Mid-Innings Collapse: Following Williamson’s dismissal (caught off medium-pacer Justin Greaves), the middle order failed to build momentum. Latham fell soon after, and when Rachin Ravindra and Will Young departed quickly, New Zealand found themselves struggling at 120 for 5.
- Bracewell’s Resilience: The tail was held together by an excellent counter-attacking effort from Michael Bracewell, who struck 47 runs off 73 balls. He added a crucial 52-run stand with wicketkeeper Tom Blundell (29) before combining with Nathan Smith (23) to push the score past 200.
West Indies Attack Shines
The entire West Indies bowling unit maintained a superb line and length, exploiting the Hagley Oval pitch perfectly.
- Shared Spoils: All six bowlers used claimed at least one wicket, with the pressure never relenting.
- Greaves’s Impact: Medium-pacer Justin Greaves was surprisingly effective, delivering two key blows including the dismissal of Kane Williamson, finishing with 2 wickets for just 35 runs off 10 overs.
- Pace and Bounce: Kemar Roach and Ojay Shields also secured two wickets each, while Jayden Seales and debutant Johann Layne provided consistent pressure, ensuring New Zealand was kept firmly under 3.5 runs per over throughout the day.
- Spin Control: Captain Roston Chase bowled a highly economical spell of 8 overs for 13 runs, controlling the scoring rate expertly.
New Zealand’s final pair, Zakary Foulkes and Jacob Duffy, successfully negotiated the final overs to keep the innings alive. The West Indies, however, holds a dominant position heading into Day 2.
At Stumps, Day 1: New Zealand 231/9 (Kane Williamson 52, Michael Bracewell 47; Kemar Roach 2/47, Justin Greaves 2/35).
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