12/11/25 12:04:00
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12/10 23:59 CST Mitch Hay's 61 helps New Zealand to a 1st- innings lead over
West Indies in the 2nd test
Mitch Hay's 61 helps New Zealand to a 1st- innings lead over West Indies in the
2nd test
By STEVE McMORRAN
AP Sports Writer
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) --- Mitch Hay scored 61 in his first test innings
Thursday to help New Zealand to a 73-run first-innings lead over the West
Indies on the second day of the second test.
The wicketkeeper-batter who cut his teeth in seven one-day internationals and
12 T20s was called into test cricket as a replacement for the injured Tom
Blundell. He followed Devon Conway's 60 at the top of the innings to guide New
Zealand to 278.
New Zealand then claimed two wickets in 10 overs before stumps, leaving the
West Indies 32-2, still 41 behind. John Campbell (14) was bowled by Michael
Rae, leaving a ball which cut back from outside off and nightwatchman Anderson
Phillip (0) was trapped lbw by Jacob Duffy.
"At that time of day their batters have got nothing to gain and we've got all
to gain so it was cool to get a couple there," Duffy said. "Any time you get a
lead it's not too bad.
"A couple of guys will be a bit gutted to get a start and not go on but any
time you get a lead and get them two down, you have to be happy with that."
The West Indies bowlers made sure New Zealand's task of surpassing the
tourists' first innings of 205 was a difficult one on a pitch at the Basin
Reserve which retained pace, bounce and some treacherous movement well into the
second day.
That was demonstrated in the first session in which New Zealand, after resuming
at 24-0, gained a strong position at 112-2 by lunch while losing Tom Latham
(11) and Kane Williamson (37) to superb pieces of seam bowling.
Latham was bowled by Kemar Roach in the fifth over of the day with a ball that
jagged back sharply from outside off and pierced his tentative defensive shot.
Williamson fell close to the first interval, beaten by a peach of a ball from
Phillip which pitched on middle and straightened past the outside edge to hit
off stump.
Conway reached his 15th test half century, his first against the West Indies,
from 87 balls prior to lunch. He and Rachin Ravindra (5) were then out in
consecutive overs early in the second session as New Zealand slipped to 117-4.
Hay and Daryl Mitchell, returning from injury after missing the drawn first
test, put on 63 for the fifth wicket. They batted assertively to put New
Zealand back on top before Mitchell (25) was out with the score 190-5.
Hay reached 50 from 74 balls with seven fours and one six before being tempted
by a short ball from Ojay Shields which he hooked to Kemar Roach at fine leg.
He left, chiding himself for falling into an obvious trap.
Glenn Phillips, who also missed the first test with injury, made 18 before
holing out to deep midwicket off Roston Chase. As a bonus, New Zealand's tail
added 45 runs for the last two wickets.
Zak Foulkes made an unbeaten 23, Jacob Duffy 11 and 13 to go with his three
wickets on debut.
Blair Tickner didn't bat after dislocating his left shoulder in a fielding
accident on the first day which again leaves the New Zealand bowling attack
short-handed. In the second innings of the first test, only Foulkes, Duffy,
Michael Bracewell and Ravindra were fit to bowl.
Tickner took 4-32 before his injury which means he won't bowl or field again in
the match.
On the eastern side of the Basin Reserve, grassy embankments are lined with
Pohutukawa trees, the New Zealand Christmas tree which is decked at this time
of the year with red blossoms, standing out against a vivid blue sky. The trees
might have caused the West Indies to drop two catches Thursday when a fielder
lost the red ball among the red background.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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