Vettori spins Kiwi fightback

Vettori spins Kiwi fightback
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

HAMILTON, DECEMBER 17: Kiwi strike bowler Daniel Vettori led the charge as New Zealand roared back into contention on day two of the first cricket Test against the West Indies here on Friday.

Vettori's four-wicket haul saw the West Indies collapse from a commanding 282 for one at start of play to 365 all out shortly after lunch.

New Zealand finished an action-packed second day at 113 for three in reply to the tourists' total, with captain Stephen Fleming (batting 18) and nightwatchman Vettori on five.

It was a huge turnaround, with a run-feast appearing on the cards as the overnight pair of Adrian Griffith and Dinanth Ramnarine walked out to the middle in the morning session.

Three hours later, West Indies coach Viv Richards' casual, happy demeanour would have taken on a steely edge after watching his team blow a royal chance to shut New Zealand out of the test.

``Clearly it was a poor start yesterday and we were very disappointed, so we had to fight back and get the simple things right again,'' NewZealand coach David Trist said.

``They backed up really well today and it was extremely gratifying for them and everyone in New Zealand that they played that well.''

Ramnarine's dismissal started the collapse, after having occupied the crease for 41 minutes while scoring eight runs.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul survived a confident caught behind appeal from Dion Nash on one before Nathan Astle enticed an edge on 14 and Craig Spearman took the chance at first slip.

Brian Lara strode out and started dominating, hitting four of his first 10 balls for four, but just when a batting blitz looked likely he stormed down the pitch to Vettori on 24 and skied a leading edge to Dion Nash at mid-off.

Then came an even bigger bonus when Griffith drove at the next ball and edged Vettori to wicket-keeper Adam Parore. He added just 11 runs to his overnight 103, having batted for 467 minutes and facing 346 balls for his highest Test score.

Having toiled all of yesterday for little reward, Vettori suddenly found himselfsitting on a hat-trick but he was denied by Jimmy Adams.

Scoreboard

West Indies (1st innings; overnight 282-1): Adrian Griffith c Parore b Vettori 114, Sherwin Campbell c Parore b Nash 170, Dinanth Ramnarine c Parore b Cairns 8, Shivnarine Chanderpaul c Fleming b Astle 14, Brian Lara c Nash b Vettori 24, Ricardo Powell c Wiseman b Cairns 0, Jimmy Adams not out 17, Ridley Jacobs c Spearman b Vettori 5, Franklyn Rose c Wiseman b Cairns 4, Reon King b Nash 1, Courtney Walsh b Vettori 0; Extras: (6lb, 2nb) 8. Total: (all out in 135.1 overs) 365
Fall of wickets: 1-276, 2-289, 3-311, 4-336, 5-336,6-336, 7-345, 8-352, 9-362
Bowling: Cairns 31-11-73-3, Nash 28-12-63-2, Vettori 34.1-9-83-4, Astle 16-2-67-1, Wiseman 22-10-51-0, McMillan 4-1-22-0

New Zealand (1st innings): Gary Stead b Walsh 22, Matthew Horne c Rose b King 32, Craig Spearman b Ramnarine 27, Stephen Fleming batting 18, Daniel Vettori batting 5; Extras: (4b, 5nb) 9. Total: (for 3 wkts, 44 overs)113
Fall of wickets: 1-61, 2-67, 3-107
Bowling: Walsh 14-2-38-1, Rose 13-3-29-0, Ramnarine 10-3-22-1, King 7-0-20-1.