NZ beat WI by innings and 12 runs in second test, sweeps series

NZ’s Tim Southee celebrates after dismissing WI Captain Jason Holder – Hopkins via Getty 

WELLINGTON (Reuters): New Zealand (NZ) took a little over an hour to wrap up a comprehensive innings and 12 runs victory in the second test against the West Indies (WI) on the fourth day at the Basin Reserve on Monday to seal a 2-0 series sweep.

The tourists resumed on 244-6 with captain Jason Holder on 60 and Joshua Da Silva on 25, but were dismissed for 317 midway through the first session, still 12 runs from making the hosts bat again after they scored 460 in their first innings.

NZ dismissed the visitors for 131 in their first innings early on Sunday, and captain Tom Latham had little hesitation in enforcing the follow on. The home side also won the first test in Hamilton by an innings and 134 runs.

The victory put NZ level with Australia on 116 points at the top of the International Cricket Council test rankings. Additionally, they moved to third in the table for the World Test Championship final at Lord’s next year.

“Clinical is probably the word to use. The way we were able to set the game with the bat on the back of Henry’s innings was outstanding,” Latham told reporters. 

“On the back of that ...to put a team back in twice in two matches was not going to be easy for the bowlers ... but they kept coming time and again and did the job with the ball. So yeah, clinical is a good word for it.”

The start of play on Monday was delayed for 20 minutes due to light rain falling in central Wellington, but Tim Southee and Neil Wagner picked up the four wickets required, while Da Silva scored his first test half century.