New Zealand in front after Duffy’s five-for wrecks West Indies

Jacob Duffy leads his team off the field (Getty Images)

New Zealand 231 (Williamson 52, Bracewell 47, Shields 2-34, Greaves 2-35) and 32 for 0 (Conway 15*, Latham 14*) lead West Indies 167 (Hope 56, Chanderpaul 52, Duffy 5-34, Henry 3-43) by 96 runs.

Jacob Duffy’s maiden five-wicket haul in Tests put New Zealand in control on the second day of the first Test against the West Indies in Christchurch. Matt Henry also chipped in with three wickets as West Indies folded for 167 in response to New Zealand’s first-innings total of 231. This came despite New Zealand dropping four catches – three of them off Henry – and conceding 28 extras. For West Indies, Shai Hope and Tagenarine Chanderpaul made half-centuries, but only two other batters reached double figures. At stumps, New Zealand were 32 without loss in their second innings, stretching their lead to 96.

In the morning, West Indies needed only three deliveries to claim the last New Zealand wicket, with Zak Foulkes edging Jayden Seales down the leg side. But they quickly lost an early wicket themselves when Foulkes struck with the first ball of the second over. Bowling around the wicket, he found the outside edge of John Campbell’s bat, with Will Young diving to his left at third slip to complete the catch.

A few overs later, however, Young grassed a far simpler chance when Henry induced an edge from Alick Athanaze. Henry was not to be denied for long. In his next over, he jagged one back from around the wicket to knock back Athanaze’s stumps. All the while, the scoreboard crawled along; after 12 overs, West Indies were 10 for 2.

Hope and Chanderpaul, though, dug in without concern for the scoring rate. The first boundary of the innings came in the 23rd over, when Hope – batting in sunglasses due to an eye infection – drove Duffy through the covers. In the following over, he stroked Nathan Smith through mid-on for another four.

Chanderpaul, meanwhile, rode his luck. He was dropped twice, on 5 and 24, both times by Devon Conway at leg slip – first off Smith and then Henry.

Hope brought up his fifty after lunch. With Chanderpaul increasingly assured, New Zealand were forced to change their approach. Duffy banged the ball in short to Hope, who began to look uncomfortable. Once a short leg was positioned, his troubles multiplied. Eventually, he gloved a short ball from around the wicket to Tom Latham, who was keeping wicket in place of Tom Blundell. Blundell had injured his hamstring while batting on the first day and did not take the field in the morning.

Once Duffy broke the 90-run stand, Henry returned to take two wickets in an over. Bowling away-swingers just outside off stump, he had Roston Chase and Justin Greaves caught behind for ducks, leaving West Indies on 106 for 5.

Chanderpaul, however, remained unfazed. He continued in his patient manner and reached his half-century. He and Tevin Imlach added 34 for the sixth wicket before the partnership ended with Conway finally holding a catch. Chanderpaul pulled Foulkes aerially towards square leg, where Conway flung himself left, went up with both hands, and held on in his left.

Henry soon found Kemar Roach’s outside edge, the ball travelling straight to first slip, but Michael Bracewell dived across from second slip and spilled it.

As the light deteriorated, only the spinners were permitted to bowl. After a brief rain delay, however, conditions improved. When play resumed, Duffy swiftly cleaned up the remaining wickets. With the first ball after the break, he had Imlach caught down the leg side. The batter reviewed the decision, but replays showed a clear glove. Johann Layne was caught and bowled in the same over. Duffy then went full and bowled Seales and Ojay Shields to complete his five-for. (ESPNcricinfo)