Taylor strikes stymie New Zealand progress

Kingston (Jamaica), June 12 :

Fast bowler Jerome Taylor crippled New Zealand with lethal strikes as the visitors somewhat eased their stranglehold on the penultimate day of the opening Test at the Sabina Park here Wednesday.

At lunch, the Black Caps were 96 for five in their second innings, losing three wickets for 82 runs in the session. Opener Tom Latham was unbeaten on 51, his second half-century of the match, and was partnered by first innings century-maker James Neesham, who was on 14, reports CMC.

The pair has so far added a crucial 41 runs for the sixth wicket, after the Kiwis were reduced to 55 for five just after the first hour of play.

However, New Zealand still hold the distinct advantage in the game, with an overall lead of 342 runs.

Taylor, playing his first Test in nearly five years, rocked the visitors early when he removed nightwatchman Ish Sodhi for four and Ross Taylor without scoring off successive deliveries in the day’s second over without a run added to the overnight score.

Sodhi was squared up and struck on the back leg to be plumb lbw and off the very next ball, Taylor played back and provided a clear lbw verdict.

Taylor has taken three for 13.

Reeling at 14 for four, Latham and captain Brendon McCullum propped up the innings with a stand of 41 for the fourth wicket.

Both batsmen were tentative against Taylor and fellow new ball partner Kemar Roach, with Latham picking up the only boundary during that period with a crisp cover drive off Taylor.

The introduction of an all-spin attack saw an increase in scoring but it was off-spinner Shane Shillingford who got the next breakthrough when he bowled McCullum through the gate, in the first over after the drinks break.

He faced 47 balls and struck one four.

However, Latham and Neesham played resolutely to deny the Windies any further success.

Latham has so far faced 133 balls and struck six fours while Neesham has faced 34 deliveries and stuck one six — a straight hit off Shillingford.

Brief scores:

New Zealand 508 for seven decl. (Kane Williamson 113, James Neesham 107, BJ Watling 89, Tom Latham 83, Ross Taylor 55, Tim Southee 21 not out; Sulieman Benn 3/142, Shane Shillingford 3/145) and 96 for five (Tom Latham batting 51; Jerome Taylor 3/13)

West Indies 262 (Shiv Chanderpaul 84 not out, Chris Gayle 64, Denesh Ramdin 39, Kieran Powell 28; Tim Southee 4/19, Mark Craig 4/91)

–IANS/CMC