Cricket: First Caribbean win in sight as Windies cave in

By MARK GEENTY

BRIDGETOWN - The West Indies batsmen took the notion of Caribbean generosity a touch far yesterday as they gifted New Zealand a stranglehold on the first test.

In a limp collapse akin to their efforts in New Zealand two seasons ago, the home side were bowled out for 107 in reply to the tourists' first innings of 337, giving New Zealand a royal chance of a first test win in the West Indies.

At stumps on day two, New Zealand were four for one after the loss of Mark Richardson for nought, an overall lead of 234 after they decided not to enforce the follow-on.

While the four New Zealand bowlers bowled good channels on a variable but far from unplayable Kensington Oval pitch, the approach of the West Indies batsmen bordered on arrogance.

Some dismissals were staggering, as they lofted eight catches to grateful New Zealand hands and the innings ended in just 42 overs.

Chris Gayle started the collapse when he hit a simple catch off the lively Shane Bond to cover in the fifth over, then next ball Ramnaresh Sarwan launched into a pull shot only to lob a catch to mid-on.

Wavell Hinds did similarly off Daryl Tuffey before Ian Butler grabbed the big wicket of captain Carl Hooper, caught hooking on the boundary. When Brian Lara chopped Daniel Vettori onto his stumps after a threatening 28 it was 62 for five and there was disbelief in the New Zealand camp.

Vettori relished the turning pitch and ended with four for 27 after cleaning up the tail, while Butler was rewarded for his accuracy and pace with three for 26. Bond caused the early staggers and hurried up the batsmen at speeds up to 150km/h.

New Zealand coach Denis Aberhart could hardly believe his side led by 230 runs after being 117 for five on the first day.

"There were some poor shots but it was brought about by some good bowling," he said. "If you can put them under pressure with back-to- back maidens that will happen. We knew they would go for their shots."

The West Indies' batting continued a series of blunders in the match so far after they misread the pitch, chose to bowl first expecting it to have pace and bounce and left out legspinner Mahendra Nagamootoo on a surface ideal for spin bowling.

Coach Roger Harper said his batsmen struggled to make the transition from one-day cricket.

"If we had decided to bat first, and batted the way we did today I don't think the toss would have made any difference," Harper said. "The pitch is a hard one to read, sometimes you get it right and sometimes you don't, but it's down to how well you play and we didn't do it well today."

Another headache for the home side, staring at just their fourth loss in 70 years of test cricket at Kensington Oval, was the fitness of opening bowler Mervyn Dillon. He could hardly walk at the end of day one with a continuing back problem and it hampered him badly yesterday.

New Zealand's impressive first innings was thanks largely to captain Stephen Fleming's majestic 130 and wicketkeeper Robbie Hart's fighting 57 not out in a tick over five hours.

Resuming yesterday on 34 with New Zealand 257 for six, Hart added crucial partnerships of 53 with Vettori and 45 with Daryl Tuffey.

Aberhart said the worsening pitch had led to the decision not to enforce the follow-on.

"There's a lot of time left in the match and we'd rather score the runs we need now than have to chase at the end on a wicket that's wearing. It's uneven now, and a lot drier than people thought it was. It will get worse."

- NZPA