West Indies Dominate Day One of First Test Against Black Caps

The West Indies secured a strong position on day one of the first Test against the Black Caps at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, finishing with New Zealand at 231-9 after 70 overs. The visitors, led by captain Roston Chase, won the toss and opted to bowl first on a green pitch under overcast skies, a decision that paid off handsomely.

New Zealand’s batting lineup struggled, reflecting their long absence from Test cricket since August. The return of Kane Williamson after nearly a year was a highlight, as he contributed 52 runs. However, the rest of the batting order could not capitalize on his efforts, with the team losing wickets at regular intervals.

Williamson and Tom Latham initially steadied the ship, forming a 93-run partnership. They reached lunch with modest scores of 1 and 13, respectively, but Williamson accelerated after the break, hitting six boundaries en route to his half-century off 88 balls. Unfortunately, his innings ended when he edged Justin Greaves to Alick Athanaze, leaving the Black Caps in a precarious position.

The West Indies’ bowling attack was relentless. All six bowlers claimed wickets, with Greaves standing out at 2-35. Kemar Roach also performed well, taking 2-47 and striking early by dismissing Devon Conway for a second-ball duck.

New Zealand’s batting woes were compounded when Rachin Ravindra and Will Young fell quickly, turning 94-1 into 120-5. Tom Blundell briefly offered resistance but fell victim to Ojay Shields, who claimed his first Test wicket after tea.

The all-rounders stepped up when the specialist batters faltered. Michael Bracewell and Nathan Smith added a crucial 50-run partnership, with Bracewell playing aggressively. He reached 47 with six boundaries before being caught off Shields’ bowling. The innings wrapped up with Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy at the crease, but Duffy’s concussion test led to the day’s play being called early.

The West Indies left the field in high spirits, with the Black Caps needing to regroup on day two. New Zealand will aim to build on their score while hoping for a stronger performance from their bowlers to challenge the West Indies effectively. The final score at stumps stood at 231-9, with Shields finishing with impressive figures of 2-34.

As the teams prepare for the second day, the Black Caps will be eager to improve their position in this important first Test of the home summer.