Kingston: New Zealand’s sixth-wicket pair of Jimmy Neesham and B.J. Watling have restored their team’s dominant position in the first Test against the West Indies with the tourists reaching tea at 428 for five on the second day’s play at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Tuesday.
Neesham’s positive strokeplay in an unbeaten 85 has highlighted the 149-run partnership with Watling’s pugnacious approach proving the perfect foil.
The wicketkeeper-batsman resumes after the break on 56 and the two will be expected to press on the accelerator even more with a view to a declaration that could see the West Indies, and more specifically opening batsman Chris Gayle in his 100th Test, facing a testing period from the New Zealand opening bowlers towards the end of the day.
Much attention on the resumption will also be on Neesham, 15 runs away from becoming the first New Zealander ever to score hundreds in his first two Test matches.
Despite long watchful periods during their time at the crease, the two players have ensured a healthy scoring rate by capitalising fully on the few loose deliveries served up by the bowlers.
The left-handed Neesham was particularly impressive, striking two straight sixes off Shane Shillingford in one over to go with ten fours in his innings.
The second session contrasted sharply with the first, 129 runs being scored off 35 overs to redress the balance after New Zealand lost three wickets for 20 runs in slipping to 279 for five before lunch.
Sulieman Benn was the first to strike, Kane Williamson adding just another eight runs before misjudging the line of a straighter delivery.
