Blackwood, Joseph stall New Zealand's push for 1st Test win against West Indies' pair

Hamilton, December 5

New Zealand’s push for an innings victory over the West Indies in the first cricket Test was stalled on the third day by a bold, counter-attacking partnership for the tourists between Jermaine Blackwood and Alzarri Joseph on Saturday.

New Zealand seemed to be coasting to a win within three days when captain Kane Williamson enforced the follow-on with a 381-run lead after dismissing the West Indies for 138 in reply to its first innings total of 519-7 declared.

When the West Indies were reduced to 30-4 at tea, and then 89-6 in their second innings it seemed they were fated to become only the fifth team in Test history to be dismissed twice in one day.

Their position was more dire because wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich could not bat in either innings because of a broken finger and they have only nine wickets.

But Blackwood and Joseph combined in an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership which broke the dominance of the New Zealand bowlers and was worth 107 runs at stumps.

While New Zealand still lead by 185 runs, the pair brought some respectability to an otherwise bedraggled West Indies performance.

Blackwood, the West Indies’ last recognised batsman, led the stubborn resistance and was 80 not out at stumps, having hit nine fours and two sixes.

Joseph, attempting to establish himself as an all-rounder, achieved his maiden Test half century and was 59 not out.

The pair played aggressively and managed to hit the New Zealand bowlers off the lengths which had been so successful throughout the day. Their 100 partnership came up from only 111 balls. AP