Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 18, 2014 Sports
By Sean Devers in Trinidad in association with Digicel, Stag Beer,John Fernandes Ltd & Cascadia Hotel
There was a much larger gathering than on the opening day at the Queens Park Oval yesterday but this
was mainly due to installation of several large Television sets in the stands to broadcast the 2014 World Cup Football live from Brazil.
Fans were treated to exciting Football on TV and entertaining batting as the young guns fired for West Indies to spark memories of glory days when batsmen like Greenidge, Haynes, Richards, Gomes and Lloyd regularly pounded opposition bowlers into the ground.
The Bajan pair of Kraigg Braithwaite (129) and Kirk Edwards (55) put together 93 for the third wicket before the 25-year-old Darren Bravo, in danger of losing his place in the side, fashioned a high class 109 and shared a century stand with the 21-year-old Braithwaite to put the West Indies, who enjoy a lead of 89 with five wickets in hand, in firm control going in today’s third day.
By the end of the day’s play, which was extended due to a rain, the home team reached an imposing 310-5 in reply to New Zealand’s 221 when day two of the second Test against New Zealand ended yesterday in Port-of-Spain with the team’s most experienced batsman Shiv Chanderpaul (4*) and night watchman Kemar Roach (0*) at the crease.
This was Bravo’s ninth Test hundred and first in the Caribbean while Braithwaite finally got his maiden ton at this level. The 182 partnership between the two failed to surpass the record third wicket stand against New Zealand by West Indies of 221 between Brian Lara and James Adams at Wellington in 1995 but it was a joy to watch as the Black Caps toiled all day.
West Indies resumed the day on 6-1, on a track which was slightly faster yesterday and progressed to 16 before Tim Southee struck. Night watchman Benn was given out LBW to Southee but the review proved the Umpire wrong and the left-hander responded with a batsman-like cover drive for four to get him off the mark.
However, Southee got his revenge in the next over when Benn (4) was bowled off his pads. Edwards joined Braithwaite and was quickly into his stride on an outfield which was cut yesterday morning.
Edwards crashed Trent Boult for four and dumped off-spinner Mark Craig back over his head for six while Brathwaite rarely took any risks and was content to play the supporting role to Edwards.
Braithwaite used the pace of the bowler to his advantage and neatly clipped Southee off his pads for four when the pacer strayed on his legs, to post the 50 in 21 overs. Edwards got on top of two short balls from Jimmy Neesham and pounded them for fours while Braithwaite used his feet to Craig when he flighted to gather successive boundaries over mid-wicket as the 50 partnership was posted.
Edwards chipped into Craig and his mishit just cleared the head of mid-on, on its way to the boundary. He again used his feet to disdainfully deposit the spinner onto the sightscreen two balls later.
Edwards ‘back-drove’ Neesham majestically through extra cover and audaciously dumped Craig, who seemed to be targeted for rough treatment, into the stands and batting was looking increasingly easier.
Edwards’ seventh four provided the 29-year-old with his seventh Test fifty but when leg-spinner Ish Sodhi replaced Craig, Edwards pushed forward to one that spun and edged a catch to the keeper at 109-3. His entertaining 55 lasted 64 balls and 84 minutes and was decorated with seven fours and three sixes.
Bravo got going with two delightful boundaries off Sodhi which were absolutely mouth-watering and one could not help but think of batting Maestro Brian Charles Lara. Braithwaite looked very organized and positive yesterday and by lunch had progressed to 48 from 96 balls with Bravo unbeaten on 10 and the hosts on 124-3.
The West Indies had added 118 runs and lost two wickets in 27 overs in a session the home team, who last won a Test match in March last year when they beat Zimbabwe in Dominica, completely dominated.
After Lunch, Bravo backed away and elegantly punched Sodhi for four before Braithwaite reached his fifth Test fifty with his sixth four and the slim right-hander was set for a big score.
A sharp shower sent the players scurrying off the ground 17 minutes after lunch and after a delay of 63 minutes play resumed in overcast conditions and the post Lunch session was extended by an hour with Tea being taken at 16:00hrs.
Braithwaite continued to play in a workman-like manner while Bravo, who scored a double century the last time West Indies opposed New Zealand in New Zealand found his best form of the series.
Although beaten on a few occasions outside off stump by the pacers, the fourth wicket stand flourished with Braithwaite passing his previous best at this level of 68 and Bravo reaching his ninth fifty from 82 balls with eight fours. By Tea the partnership was exactly 100 with Braithwaite on 85 and Bravo on 58.
After Tea, the Kiwi bowlers failed to reproduce the heroics of Jermaine Taylor who took 3-19 from six overs in the final session on Monday.
Bravo thumped Sodhi for three sixes and a four in successive overs while Braithwaite dabbed Southee for four to move to 97 before he reached his maiden Test ton from 281 minutes, 199 balls with 11 fours.
Bravo majestically drove Neesham for four to produce the shot of the day and flicked Craig to the fine leg boundary to move to 99. He then pushed for a single to post his century from 170 minutes, 128 balls with 11 fours and three sixes. The emotional Bravo, with his father watching from the stands, then dropped his bat and raced to the boundary to acknowledge his fans with a Football-like celebration.
Bravo was then removed by part timer Kane Williamson at 291-4 to bring Chanderpaul to the crease to join Braithwaite who was caught and bowled by Boult (2-30) after facing 258 balls and batting for 371 minutes with 13 fours.
The new ball was taken just before the close and in fading light, Chanderpaul and Roach, the second night watchman in the innings, survived to the end when bad light stopped play at 18:15hrs.
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