Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Thanks Sreshth. Conway and Latham are all kitted up, waiting just beyond the boundary line. Will they try to rush to the target? Or is it slow and steady? I suspect they'll just play it steady. There's runs on this pitch just playing normally. Kemar Roach with the new ball. Immediately around the wicket to the two left-hand batters

Rachel: "How good for Duffy!! Hope the limo is being booked for the Southern lads in the bowling attack. "

Logan: "Conflicted at the moment. Ecstatic that the Black Caps are showing depth in our bowling. Bummed out that the game will probably end today so I don't get to spend the weekend at the Basin"

2.36pm Be back with the chase shortly. Do NZ wrap it up before tea?! Just under an hour left in the session and the batters will be facing the hard, new ball. On the other side, we'll have Alagappan

2.33pm As Duffy walks off with the innings ball and soaks in the applause, it caps a West Indian batting display they'd rather forget. Seven single-digit scores, a top score of just 35, and only two players reaching the 20s - all on a surface that wasn't offering anywhere near the assistance of the first two days. The Brandon King run-out that sparked the collapse was a gut-punch, draining whatever momentum WI had in their push for a competitive total. Rae backed up his first-innings three-for with another trio of wickets, and New Zealand ultimately didn't feel the absence of the injured Tickner.

Pete Pete: "@ Dave.. I agree with you re Southee, he was way past his best for the last couple of years while the likes of Duffy, Rae and Tickner had to wait until their 30's to get a chance"

Hugh : "Did you manage to track down the stats regarding Michael Rae's first scoring shot in test cricket being a 5?" -- yes, I did actually. Since we have full ball-by-ball data, it's only Naeem Islam of Bangladesh and Ben Hilfenhaus of Australia who did the same in Tests. Reece Topley in ODIs

Tom: "@Caleb, more test matches against the top sides is exactly what the BC's need. Would rather see more test cricket getting played by NZ even if it meant players averages will down"

Michael Rae Fan: "Great bowling display on display from the Black Caps, shout out to Alex Caruso." - #HeadbandSupremacy

Solomon: "@Caleb NZ always wants to test themselves against the best. That's why we play. We aren't scared of playing any of the big teams!"

46.2
W
Duffy to Shields, OUT, five-wicket haul for Duffy, first in Christchurch and now in Wellington! WI are all out with a lead of only 55. Duffy digs it in short and Shields swings the bat aimlessly. Slices it high up and fine leg gets under it for a simple one. New Zealand need 56 to take a series lead

O Shields c Rae b Duffy 9 (4m 4b 2x4 0x6) SR: 225

Caleb: "@Gareth, be careful what you wish for! More tests for NZ would inevitably mean more tests v Aus, Ind, and Eng, against whom Williamson averages much much less than his whole career!" -- A three-Test series against WI (this series) is a pleasant change from the two-Test shootouts NZ have been so used to these days

46.1
4
Duffy to Shields, FOUR, goes for the money ball, full on middle stump. Shields backs away and gets an opportunity to give the ball a thwack. Does that beautifully, drilling it past the bowler for four

END OF OVER:
46 | 10 Runs 1 Wkt | WI: 124/9

  • Ojay Shields5 (2b)
  • Kemar Roach5 (8b)
  • Michael Rae12-3-45-3
  • Jacob Duffy17-4-34-4

Theo: "As a proud South Islander (from Otago, no less) it's great to see two Southern men dominate this innings with their bowling. Can't think of the last NZ lineup that would've been like that"

45.6
1
Rae to Shields, 1 run, so close to being all out! Overpitched ball outside fof and Shields tries to launch a big shot over the off side. It is sliced high up and deep extra cover runs in to try and take the catch, but it lands a metre short near cover
45.5
4
Rae to Shields, FOUR, Shields gives the fans what they want. A clubbed four down to wide long on. Length ball outside off and he makes room before giving the bat a big, fat swing across the line

Gareth: "I know it's a cliche, but it's become a cliche because it's true: Imagine what Williamson could have achieved if NZ bothered to play more tests."

Andrew H: "Thanks for he great updates @Sreshth. Poor old WI, would really like to watch Roach and Seales get to clubbing! " -- they're running out of batters now...

45.4
W
Rae to Seales, OUT, around the stumps. Full and wide outside off. Seales offers no footwork but does offer a big expansive drive. Kisses the outside edge en route to Hay, who takes the catch in front of his body

JNT Seales c †Hay b Rae 0 (7m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

Dave: "...and as Duffy's average continues in the teens, you wonder about the 2 years we clung on to Southee as he lifted his average into the thirties..."

45.3
1
Rae to Roach, 1 run, top-edged but safe. Duffy at fine leg dives to stop the four. Rae cranked it up, dug it in short, and Roach tried to hook it with his eyes off the ball
45.2
0
Rae to Roach, no run, back of a length ball outside off. Roach lets the ball go in a Courtney Walsh fashion, hiding his bat behind his body