New Zealand declares at 575 and West Indies 110-0 after Day 2 of third Test

Devon Conway scored his second Test double century more than four years after his first to speed New Zealand to a declaration at 575-8 Friday on the second day of the third Test against the West Indies.

Undeterred by the New Zealand total and the need to bat in gloomy conditions late in the day, West Indies openers John Campbell and Brandon King rushed to 110 without loss in 23 overs before stumps. New Zealand leads the three-match series 1-0 after the first test was drawn and the Black Caps won the second by nine wickets.

King reached a half century from 63 balls and was 55 not out at the close and Campbell was 45 not out after a century opening partnership from only 116 balls. After reaching 200, Conway went on this time to his highest test score of 227 in an innings of almost 8-1/2 hours. He made exactly 200 in the first innings of his debut test against England at Lord’s in June 2021.

His mammoth innings of 508 minutes, 367 balls, 31 fours which encompassed a 323-run opening partnership with Tom Latham put New Zealand in control of the test. Latham made 145 on the first day and Rachin Ravindra built a half century in the second and third sessions Friday, finishing 72 not out when the declaration was made approaching 5 pm, with around 90 minutes or 23 overs left in the day.

Ravindra hit six fours and two sixes, speeding up as the declaration approached. He shared an unbroken partnership of 39 with Ajaz Patel who finished 30 not out. “We would have liked a wicket at the end but that’s the way the cookie crumbles,” Ravindra said. “They both batted well, King and Campbell, and they showed the ability to punish when we missed. Hopefully, the pitch wears a little bit from now on and offers a bit to the spinners.”

The West Indies bowled 155 overs, 65 on the second day when they were without attack spearhead Kemar Roach who was unable to bowl because of a hamstring injury. When they came to bat, they were without Shai Hope who remained at the team hotel Friday with an unspecified illness. New Zealand resumed at 334-1 with Conway 178 not out. He hit a four from the first ball of the day and went on to reach his double century from 316 balls in 437 minutes.

Though short-handed in Roach’s absence, the West Indies bowlers performed better on the second day than on the first, regularly chipping out the New Zealand batters. Their ability to find the edge of the New Zealanders’ bats presented four catches to wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach.

Nightwatchman Jacob Duffy was the first, caught behind on 17 after hitting two boundaries to add to his overnight total of 9. Then Kane Williamson fell before lunch for 31, taken from 60 balls. Justin Greaves was the best of the West Indies bowlers and took 2-83 from 29 overs.

New Zealand lost Daryl Mitchell (11) and Tom Blundell (4) between lunch and tea and Glen Phillips (29) in the last session as it made often desultory progress until Ravindra stepped up the pace with the declaration imminent.

New Zealand came out full of energy after the declaration, expecting to take wickets before stumps. But the New Zealand pacers bowled poorly, mixing their lengths and allowing the West Indies to score freely.