Wellington: BJ Watling led a tail-end assault on the West Indies bowling to lift New Zealand`s first innings total to an impressive 441 on the second day of the second Test in Wellington on Thursday.
Lunch was taken after Watling was dismissed by Shannon Gabriel for 65, leaving Trent Bolt undefeated on 38. In 25 overs in a rain-affected morning session, New Zealand added 134 to their overnight total of 307-6.
Their intention to up the pace was evident from the start of the day, when Watling and Tim Southee piled on 27 runs in 26 balls before Southee was dismissed. After belting four boundaries, the New Zealand paceman was unable to contain himself when tempted by a short-pitched Darren Sammy delivery.
He slashed at the ball but could not control the shot and was caught by Darren Bravo at deep square leg for 21. Ish Sodhi continued the charge when he joined Watling, with the pair accumulating rapid singles when boundaries were not on offer.
Sodhi reached 27 before he was caught behind by Denesh Ramdin and Neil Wagner was caught first ball by Sammy, leaving Tino Best on a hat-trick. But Best failed to remove last man Boult.
When the number 11 batsman was on three, he skied a Shane Shillingford delivery which Best spilled over the ropes, turning a chance to wrap up the innings into a six. New Zealand were then on 386 and Boult and Watling added a further 55 runs before Gabriel bowled Watling to end the innings.
Best was the most successful of the West Indies bowlers, with four for 110. The start of play was delayed by 75 minutes as light showers swept across the ground, forcing a three-over reduction in the day`s schedule. Rain began falling again as lunch was taken.
