By Alex Powell at the Basin Reserve
Two late strikes have ultimately swung the second test between the Black Caps and West Indies in New Zealand’s favour after day two in Wellington.
Down a batter, New Zealand were bowled out for 278 in the day’s final session for a lead of 73, but were able to have the final say, and see the West Indies reach 32-2 at stumps, behind by 41 runs.
Despite an impressive debut half-century from wicketkeeper Mitch Hay (61) and another from Devon Conway (60), no Black Cap was able to convert a start into a score that batted the West Indies out of the contest.
Kane Williamson made 37 after a stand of 67 with Conway, while Daryl Mitchell added 25 as part of a 73-run partnership with Hay. However, both were dismissed without being able to convert their starts, as New Zealand fell from 103-1 to 233-7, a collapse of 6-130.
The efforts of Hay, though, will be the most pleasing for the Black Caps. Making his debut in place of the injured Tom Blundell, the 25-year-old looked composed at the wicket, and played an array of shots - hitting nine boundaries and one six - to bat New Zealand into the lead, one day on from a tidy effort with the gloves.
Conway was also fluent, but missed the chance for his first test century on his adopted home ground after scoring his 13th test fifty.
With 42 minutes to survive before the close, the West Indies lost John Campbell (14), bowled leaving a delivery from Michael Rae (1-4), and nightwatchman Anderson Phillip (0), after he was trapped LBW by Jacob Duffy (1-8).
Brandon King (15 not out) and Kavem Hodge (three not out) will resume on day three, as the West Indies try to set a competitive total on a pitch that history says will get better to bat on.
The Black Caps, meanwhile, will be without Blair Tickner, who was ruled out of bowling and fielding for the remainder of the second test, after dislocating his shoulder on day one.
Resuming on 24-0, the Black Caps lost Tom Latham (11) when he was bowled by a ball that Kemar Roach (2-43) swung past his defence, before Williamson took the attack to the West Indies. The former captain hit seven boundaries in his 46-ball stay, and added 50 with Conway in just 71 deliveries.
Conway pressed on to his own milestone, in 87 balls, but lost Williamson - who couldn’t capitalise on being dropped by Phillip (3-70) off his own bowling, only to hit off-stump not long after with a perfect outswinger.
With New Zealand in a position of strength at 112-2 at lunch, the afternoon saw the West Indies claw back. Rachin Ravindra (5) and Conway fell within three balls of each other, and left the Black Caps in need of a partnership at 117-4. Mitchell and Hay answered that need.
Hay played the role of the aggressor, courtesy of two boundaries and a six pulled off Jayden Seales (1-72). Mitchell, meanwhile, was more measured, but did launch a trademark six back over the bowler’s head – again off Seales.
The pair’s partnership wasn’t chanceless. Hay edged through gully on 27, and top-edged short of fine leg on 38, while Mitchell also saw an edge fall short of slip on 16. Regardless, the duo raised the innings’ second 50 stand, only to see it broken when Mitchell was strangled down leg by Phillip for 25.
Hay moved to his maiden test 50, needing only 74 balls, hitting seven boundaries and one six, to reach tea with 52 of New Zealand’s 200-5. After a nervy moment that nearly saw Glenn Phillips run out by standing out of his crease, Hay pulled Ojay Shields to fine leg for four to see the Black Caps into the lead.
Two balls and another boundary later, though, Hay’s debut knock ended when a third successive pull could only find the hands of Roach on the fine leg boundary off Shields, with the Black Caps at 213-6, and in front by just eight.
As the last batter standing, Phillips looked for quick runs, including a pulled six over fine leg but was out for 18, caught at deep midwicket trying to slog-sweep Roston Chase (1-9) at 233-7.
Duffy came and went for 11, after adding 24 with Foulkes (23 not out), before debutant Rae played an eventful cameo - including getting off the mark with a rare five - before he was bowled by Seales to end the innings for 278.
Two wickets before the close ultimately ensured the Black Caps will return on day three as the happier of the two sides. But with the pitch still expected to get better to bat on, the West Indies can hope for a repeat of days four and five in Christchurch to salvage this test.
West Indies 205 & 32-2 (King 15 not out; Rae 1-4, Duffy 1-8)
New Zealand 278 (Hay 61, Conway 60; Phillip 3-70)
New Zealand lead by 41 runs
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.