Posted by Gareth Parry Added on: August 05 2012
West Indies 209 (Samuels 123, Bracewell 3-46) and 206 for 5 (Samuels 52, Chanderpaul 43*) beat New Zealand 260 (Guptill 71, Taylor 60, Roach 4-70) and 154 (Brownlie 35, Deonarine 4-37, Narine 3-19) by five wickets
West Indies Win Series 2-0
In the second and final Test of the series the West Indies were in search of their first Test series win against a top Test playing nation in the last three years.
The home side won the toss and elected to field. This decision was vindicated with New Zealand posting a below par score of just 260. Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor both scored half centuries and the Black Caps will have been disappointed that neither man went on to post a big score that would have put them in a strong position.
In truth when Guptill fell with the visitors on just 170 it looked likely that New Zealand would struggle to post 200. However a vital 90 runs for the final four wickets took them to a respectable total.
Kemar Roach was the spearhead of the West Indian attack and he bowled with consistent pace to take excellent figures of 17.5-2-70-4.
Having restricted New Zealand to a below par score the West Indies proceeded to relinquish their advantage with a poor batting display. Gayle's innings of just 8 from 55 delivers was symptomatic of the home sides mind set as they threatened to capitulate.
They were bowled out in just 64.3 overs and but for a superb hundred from Samuels would have posted significantly less than the 209 they reached. It was Samuels fourth Test century and his first in the West Indies and his contribution of 123 was vital.
The visitors four pronged seam attack bowled exceptionally well and made the most of the poor shots offered by the home side. Boult and Bracewell were the pick with both men picking up three wickets.
New Zealand went out to bat for the second time with a lead of 51 runs and knowing that the highest successful chase on this ground was just 212. An opening partnership of 55 promised to put New Zealand in a virtually unassailable position before a familiar collapse left them teetering on 105 for 7.
The final three wickets added a valuable 49 but the visitors once again rued the fact that their top order could not convert starts into significant scores as they posted just 154.
Seven of the New Zealand wickets to fall were dismissed by the spin bowling of Narine and Deonarine as the pitch started to offer turn and bounce to the slow bowlers.
New Zealand collapse left the home side just 206 runs to win and given the success of the West Indian spinners in the third innings the visitors knew they would struggle with no font-line spinner in the side in Vettori's absence.
New Zealand fought creditably to take five wickets and take the match into a fourth day but ultimately they did not have the bowling resources to trouble the home side. Samuels followed up his hundred with 52 runs as he, Chanderpaul and Roach scored the bulk of the runs.
The West Indies five wicket victory secured a 2-0 series win as the West Indies followed up their impressive one day form. New Zealand on the other hand have much to contemplate as they leave the West Indies having won only one ODI.
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