10.25am
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Rain looks to be the only hurdle as New Zealand zero in on their first test cricket win in the West Indies, after grinding the home side into the hallowed Kensington Oval turf at the weekend.
The tourists set the West Indies 474 to win the first test
on the final two days after battling to 243 in their second innings late on a gloomy third day, thanks largely to Nathan Astle's 77.
The West Indies reached 5 without loss in reply after a tense four overs at stumps today. Captain Stephen Fleming yesterday opted not to enforce the follow on after bowling the West Indies out for a woeful 107 because he wanted the homeside to bat last on a wearing, variable pitch.
It caused enough problems for the New Zealand batsmen today to suggest scoring the highest winning fourth innings total in test history is a huge ask.
The record winning total is 406 for four achieved by India 27 years ago against the West Indies in Port-of-Spain. On evidence of their collapse in just 42 overs yesterday when all the batsmen fell to dreadful loose shots, it would take a remarkable individual performance from senior men Carl Hooper or Brian Lara for the West Indies to even save the match.
The weather though may have a say as the Caribbean approaches the height of the rainy season. Rain has stayed away from Barbados for the past five days which suggests heavy downpours are due.
New Zealand resumed on four for one today, an overall lead of 234 and the task ahead to set a target of at least 450.
Again there were shaky moments early on as Lou Vincent was given out not playing a shot for two and Chris Harris was also trapped in front for 19.
The rock though was an unlikely one in Daryl Tuffey who relished the elevation to the nightwatchman's role and batted 144 minutes for 31 as he topped his highest test score of 28 -- achieved in the first innings of this match.
He fell just short of batting through the first session when he was nicked out by Hooper's offspin. Craig McMillan completed a forgettable test when he played a loose drive on one and was snapped up in the slips, and at 88 for five the tourists' dominance was slipping a touch.
It took another something-special innings from Nathan Astle after his poor shot in the first innings and he delivered with 77 off 112 balls, including 11 fours.
Captain Stephen Fleming helped him add 76 for the sixth wicket after Fleming dropped himself to No 7 after battling a neck problem. Astle smashed paceman Adam Sanford out of the attack, hitting him for eight fours including four in a single over.
Astle though had a life on 12 when Ramnaresh Sarwan, on his 22nd birthday, dropped him at backward point. The home side's best bowler Pedro Collins finally removed Astle to give Lara his fourth catch of the match at first slip before Fleming, who took on the short deliveries served up to him, fell for 34 when Wavell Hinds grabbed a smart boundary catch.
Robbie Hart, after his gutsy 57 not out in the first innings, added 24 in 90 minutes, before Ian Butler chimed in with some fine shots at No 11 for his highest test score of 26. He and Shane Bond added 30 for the last wicket.
Hooper's bowlers were much more accurate than day one after he won the toss, with Collins always a handful with his tricky left-armers to end with six for 76 when he removed Butler.
The big handicap though was the back injury to Mervyn Dillon who bowled just six overs this morning but wasn't sighted for the rest of the day.
- NZPA
10.25am
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Rain looks to be the only hurdle as New Zealand zero in on their first test cricket win in the West Indies, after grinding the home side into the hallowed Kensington Oval turf at the weekend.
The tourists set the West Indies 474 to win the first test
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