Tue 9 Dec ’25 by KRISSANIA YOUNG
It took a partnership of 180 runs and 68.1 over from the seventh wicket pair in what was the second-highest team total in the fourth innings (457 for 6) as they chased New Zealand to give the West Indies their first points of this ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Ahead of Tuesday night’s second match in Wellington, Windies captain Roston Chase is confident his team can push for a series lead.
[We’re] full of confidence and energy to prove that we can actually go one step further in winning the game,” said Chase.
Justin Greaves’ unbeaten 202, Shai Hope’s 140, and Kemar Roach’s 58* saw the Caribbean side occupy the crease for 163.3 overs in the second innings. For a side that had lost five in a row prior to the Christchurch Test, Chase says such displays will only serve to lift the team’s spirits.
“I think so [performance is] will give us a lot of confidence going forward in the series, knowing that we can actually compete and get close [to winning]’ he said. ‘So the mood among the boys is good, and [they] are very religious about it at the moment.”
With a better display of the first innings with the bat, West Indies might have walked away with the spoils. However, a weak 167 was all they could do, and Chase will be hoping to avoid a repeat.
“We think once we can get a decent total in the first innings it will get us closer to winning a match,” he said. “We need to close that lead early and if we put pressure on the New Zealand batsmen in the second innings, everything will be fine.”
While the West Indies go into the Test relatively calmly and with the mentality of ‘going one step further’, New Zealand have been cornered by injury-induced changes. Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell is out of the upcoming Test, while seamers Matt Henry and Nathan Smith will miss the rest of the series.
Still, the Windies captain understands the threat posed by the second wave of Kiwi attacks.
“Well, you can’t underestimate anyone at this level because it’s international cricket and everyone who comes here has to have a degree. [certain] skill level,” Chase said. “But what I would say (to the rest of the team) is just play what you see. Play every ball on its merits. It doesn’t matter who the bowler is.”
The second Test starts later this evening from 6pm Eastern Caribbean Time, 5pm Jamaica at the Basin Reserve.
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