Sport

Black Caps cruise to another win over Windies

14:22 pm on 14 December 2020

New Zealand needed little more than an hour on day four to wrap up a comprehensive innings and 12 runs win over the West Indies at Wellington's Basin Reserve and seal a 2-nil series sweep.

West Indies captain Jason Holder is bowled by Tim Southee. Photo: © Copyright Andrew Cornaga 2020 / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd

The tourists resumed on 244-6 with captain Jason Holder on 60 and Joshua Da Silva on 25 but were dismissed for 317 midway through the first session, still 12 runs from making the hosts bat again after they scored 460 in their first innings.

New Zealand dismissed the visitors for 131 in their first innings early on Sunday and captain Tom Latham had little hesitation in enforcing the follow on.

Look back at commentary of the test here.

The home side also won the first test in Hamilton by an innings and 134 runs.

The victory puts New Zealand level with Australia on 116 points at the top of the International Cricket Council test rankings and they moved to third in the table for the World Test Championship final at Lord's next year.

"Clinical is probably the word to use," Latham said.

"The way we were able to set the game with the bat on the back of Henry's innings was outstanding.

Henry Nicholls was named man of the match for his 174 in the first innings.

"On the back of that ...to put a team back in twice in two matches was not going to be easy for the bowlers ... but they kept coming time and again and did the job with the ball.

"So, yeah, clinical is a good word for it."

The start of play on Monday was delayed for 20 minutes due to light rain falling in central Wellington but Tim Southee and Neil Wagner picked up the four wickets required, while Da Silva scored his first test half century.

"When we batted in the first innings we didn't set up the game very well," Holder told reporters as to why his side had lost the game.

"We always say the first innings is really important to set the match up and we didn't do that in this test match."

Alzarri Joseph then provided some fireworks for the small crowd with three fours and two sixes, before Southee had him caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper BJ Watling for 24 to leave the visitors on 282-8.

Da Silva managed to secure his first test half century but was trapped in front lbw by Neil Wagner for 57 before Shannon Gabriel was bowled by the left-armer for a duck to end the match.

New Zealand now move to Auckland for the first of three Twenty20 matches against Pakistan on Friday.

They have two more tests at home this summer - both against Pakistan with the first of those starting at Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui on Boxing Day.

-Reuters/RNZ