New Zealand 83-0 at lunch on day one of third West Indies Test / Photo: Michael Bradley - AFP
New Zealand 83-0 at lunch on day one of third West Indies Test
New Zealand were 83-0 at lunch on day one of the third Test against the West Indies on Thursday, justifying a decision to bat first on a green-looking Mount Maunganui wicket.
Devon Conway was on 42, with six fours, and captain Tom Latham on 39.
The West Indies seamers found good movement off the grassy surface in the opening overs, bowling tight lines which had both Conway and Latham defending cautiously.
Kemar Roach was the pick of the West Indies attack, conceding 17 runs from eight overs while Anderson Phillip proved expensive, conceding 25 from his three.
Neither batsman gave a chance as they negotiated the tougher moments, and then accelerated as the pitch flattened out and West Indian lengths strayed.
West Indies skipper Roston Chase said he would have bowled and, at a suggestion spin would play a part later in the match, added he would "have to see it to believe it".
But after 22 overs, Chase bowled his first over of offspin.
New Zealand included spinner Ajaz Patel in their side for his first home Test in five years. Tom Blundell returned to keep wicket after missing the previous Test with injury.
The West Indies made one change, with the injured fast bowler Ojay Shields replaced by batsman Alick Athanaze.
New Zealand lead the three match series 1-0, after a draw in the first Test in Christchurch, and a nine-wicket win in Wellington.
E.M.Hall--MC-UK
