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Journalism of Courage
WELLINGTON, DEC 27: New Zealand pounded the West Indies bowlers into submission and almost certainly sealed a Test series win on the second day of the second cricket Test on Monday. Led by Australian-born Mathew Sinclair’s debut innings of 214, New Zealand posted 518 for nine declared, a seemingly unbeatable position. They hold a 1-0 series lead after beating the tourists by nine wickets in Hamilton earlier this month. Chris Cairns had Sherwin Campbell leg before wicket for his second consecutive duck of the series to leave the tourists five for one at stumps.
It was another memorable day for New Zealand as the crowd built up to more than 7,000 to watch Sinclair and Nathan Astle push on in the first session. Sinclair stole the limelight on day one with his 123 not out, when he became the highest New Zealand run-scorer on debut and only the fifth to score a debut century. But the milestones kept coming as Sinclair carried on to 150 without incident and set his sights on the double century and his highestfirst-class score of 203 not out. He and Astle went to lunch with New Zealand in command at 356 for three, Sinclair on 160 and Astle on 61.
The pair recorded the highest fourth-wicket stand against the West Indies when they passed Bevan Congdon and Brian Hastings’ 175 set in 1971-72. The race was on for who would bring up their personal milestone first when Sinclair moved into the 190s and Astle into the 90s. It looked like Sinclair would get there when he pushed a ball wide on mid-on on 198, but Astle, on 93, flew back for the second run as Franklyn Rose claimed the ball. Rose’s throw beat Astle by about 10cm and third umpire Steve Dunne ruled him out seven runs short of what would have been his sixth Test century.
Sinclair then hooked a short ball from Courtney Walsh backward of square for four to bring up 200 in 506 minutes off 430 balls. Still feeling the disappointment of Astle’s run out, Sinclair’s celebrations were more muted than for his century but he was given a prolonged standing ovation. His532 minute innings the equal second highest score by a Test debutant alongside West Indian Lawrence Rowe ended when he lethargically pushed at a Reon King delivery which clipped his off stump.
Scoreboard
New Zealand (1st innings; overnight 263-3): Craig Spearman c Walsh b King 24, Gary Stead c Campbell b King 17, Matthew Sinclair b King 214, Stephen Fleming c Adams b Chanderpaul 67, Nathan Astle run out 93, Craig McMillan c Jacobs b King 31, Chris Cairns c Adams b Rose 31, Adam Parore b Rose 5, Dion Nash not out 2, Daniel Vettori c Campbell b Rose 2; Extras: (b5, lb12, w1, nb14) 32. Total: (for 9 wkts declared off 173.3 overs) 518
Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-76, 3-240, 4-249, 5-456, 6-507, 7-507, 8-514, 9-518.Bowling: Walsh 41-5-112-0, King 36-11-94-4, Rose 32.3-5-113-3, Perry 32-5-120-0, Adams 26-9-45-0, Chanderpaul 6-1-15-1
West Indies (1st innings): Adrain Griffith batting 2, Sherwin Campbell lbw Cairns 0, Nehemiah Perry batting 3. Total: (for one wkt in five overs) 5Fall of wicket:1-1
Bowling: Cairns 3-1-3-1, Nash 2-1-2-0
Sinclair joins elite band
Mathew Sinclair, an Australian playing for the Black Caps on Monday became the 2nd highest scoring Test batsman on debut when he scored 214 against the West Indies. The following is an updated list of the highest Test cricket innings on debut
