The West Indies are again caught scratching their heads, as they experienced defeat of defeats in the 2nd ODI against New Zealand, who dominated with a win by 204 runs. A crucial dropped catch by the Windies, brilliant and steady run-making by New Zealand and a barage of wickets taken by Trent Boult, all contributed to a fantastic Black Caps series win of 2-0.
Worker & Munro Partner to Half Century
The pair of George Worker and Colin Munro have proved to be a most reliable opening partnership for the Black Caps, and this was no less evident at the start of the 2nd ODI. The West Indies suffered an early drop of what should have been a straightforward catch; this foreshadowed the despair that would beset them for their decision to put Shai Hope in as wicketkeeper, rather than the usual Shane Dowrich.
However, they would get their relief in the 6th over, when the Worker-Munro partnership, which had stood for half century, was finally dismantled. Sheldon Cottrell pitched a delivery short outside off with just enough pull to force Munro's effort straight into the hands of Jason Mohammed at mid on.
Windies Resurge in the Middle
If their start was anything to go by, one would have written of the West Indies entirely and handed the match to the Black Caps, as a steady opening partnership, buffered by a half century from Ross Taylor, fuelled what seemed to be a runaway victory train.
But the Windies started to kick up some dust of their own, as middle-order batsman, Neil Broom, could only produce 6 runs before Cottrell struck again in the 10th over, delivering a good length on off stump, which Broom edged to Holder who flew at it with safe hands for a strong show of effort.
Worker was then dismissed by Ronsford Beaton in the 18th over, courtesy of a short ball that gave Rovman Powell a perfectly timed catch a little way inside the boundary.
A 130-Run Partnership Worth Writing Home For
It seemed as though catches both made and broke the West Indies when it came down to it, as the wicket of the dangerous Todd Astle escaped them in the 46th over. Astle punished the West Indies for it as he made the most of the new lease on life that he had been handed, with unstoppable boundaries, all while maximizing singles and twos to add to his team's climbing tally.
By the time Astle was finally bowled, he had already done the damage he came to do, stopping just one short of his maiden half century, and serving as a steady anchor to a partnership with Henry Nicholls that ascended all the way to 130 runs.
Trent Boult Seals the Attack With a 7-For
If the batsmen of New Zealand had not already done enough to claim Black-Caps-victory, Trent Boult was here to ensure that his team dominated with both bat and ball.
Boult used surgical precision to tear apart the Windies defense, shaving off a timid top order by the 6th over. His efforts included the stumping of Kyle Hope with the last ball of the very first over, angled by a good length on off stump to penetrate the gap between bat and pad to obliterate the top of off stump.
As Evin Lewis prepared to take on the task of restoring order to the defense, he wasn't given half a chance, as he lifted a ball bowled almost exactly down fine leg, too high to carry itself beyond the grasp of Doug Bracewell.
Shimron Hetmeyer just couldn't figure out the correct approach for a ball outside his comfort zone, outside off, and paid dearly with a stretching effort that floated to Worker at first slip.
Shai Hope would round up a back-to-back slew of four wickets taken via the bowling of Boult, and would be joined by Ashley Nurse, Sheldon Cottrell and Shannon Gabriel, in the "Boult bounty" that lit up the grounds at Christchurch.
The next match, which serves as consolation for the West Indies, is scheduled for Christmas Day.
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