Cricket: Otago spinner shines as NZ down Windies

Mark Craig had a test debut to remember against the West Indies.
Mark Craig had a test debut to remember against the West Indies.
Offspinner Mark Craig captured the best figures by a New Zealand bowler on debut as the visitors beat West Indies by 186 runs late on the fourth day of the first test at Sabina Park.

The hosts were bowled out for 216 after New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum had asked for an additional 30 minutes of play when they reduced West Indies to 115 for seven with four overs remaining in the regulation day's play.

Craig finished with 4-97 and match figures of 8-188, the best from a New Zealand bowler on debut, as the hosts were dismissed in the final over of the day, chasing an improbable 403 runs for victory in Kingston.

Tim Southee had torn the top off the hosts' second innings with two wickets, while Craig and legspinner Ish Sodhi shared the wickets in the final session with Sodhi taking 3-42 as New Zealand won just their second test in the Caribbean.

Tailenders Shane Shillingford and Suleiman Benn had provided a cameo 10th-wicket partnership for the crowd, belting 82 runs from 56 balls before Benn was caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling from part-time spinner Kane Williamson for 25 with two balls remaining in the day's play.

Shillingford was left 53 not out, having scored the second-fastest test half century from 25 balls. He hit five sixes and three fours in his innings.

McCullum had earlier declared New Zealand's second innings on 156 for eight, pushing the tourists to a lead of over 400 runs. Craig ended up scoring the final runs after having belted a six off the first ball he faced in test cricket.

Southee had earlier reduced the hosts to 15-2 at tea when he captured Kieran Powell for a duck and the dangerous Chris Gayle for 10 before Craig took over in the elongated final session.

The offspinner captured two wickets in an over when he had Darren Bravo caught behind for 12 and then Marlon Samuels caught at forward short leg for a two-ball duck, the batsman making his first pair in test cricket.

Sodhi had the obstinate Shivnarine Chanderpaul trapped lbw for 24 with about an hour's play remaining before Craig had Kemar Roach (19) caught behind.

Sodhi then bowled West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin for 34 and had Jerome Taylor caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling for 19 before Shane Shillingford and Benn produced their cameo.

New Zealand, resuming on 14 for two, began the day poorly with Taylor taking two wickets in two balls before the tourists could add to their overnight score.

Opener Tom Latham, however, followed up his 83 in the first innings with 73 to anchor the second innings.

Taylor finished with 3-28 from 12 overs.

 

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