Devon Conway’s commanding double hundred powered New Zealand to a towering first-innings total, but the West Indies responded with a spirited and confident batting display to leave the contest finely poised at the close of the second day on Friday.
After toiling for long stretches in the field, the West Indies closed the day on a positive note at 110 without loss, as Brandon King and John Campbell seized the initiative during a fearless final session.
Roach injury tests Windies’ resolve
The day began under a cloud for the visitors when it was confirmed that veteran pacer Kemar Roach would take no further part in the innings after suffering a hamstring injury on Thursday. The absence of their leader left the West Indies attack severely weakened, particularly on a surface offering little assistance to bowlers.
Resuming on 334 for one, with Conway unbeaten on 178, New Zealand pressed their advantage early. Nightwatchman Jacob Duffy contributed a useful 17 before edging Jayden Seales behind, but the dismissal did little to slow the home side’s momentum.
Conway dominates, milestones fall
Conway continued to bat with authority and control, eventually reaching his second Test double century by striking Seales for two boundaries. He later added a fluent 69-run partnership with Kane Williamson, further tightening New Zealand’s grip on the match.
Williamson departed for 31, caught behind by Tevin Imlach while attempting an expansive drive off Justin Greaves, leaving the score at 419 for three. The hosts went to lunch at 424 for three, firmly in command.
Greaves breaks the stand, but damage done
Shortly after the interval, Greaves delivered the breakthrough the West Indies desperately needed, trapping Conway plumb in front for a magnificent 227.
Conway’s innings was a masterclass in concentration and stroke-making. He occupied the crease for nearly eight and a half hours, faced 367 deliveries, and struck 31 boundaries.
Late resistance pushes total beyond 550
Although wickets fell in clusters thereafter, Daryl Mitchell (11) caught down the leg side off Roston Chase and Tom Blundell (4) edging Seales behind, New Zealand continued to build.
Rachin Ravendra steadied the innings with a valuable 61-run stand for the seventh wicket alongside Glenn Phillips (29), before combining with Ajaz Patel in an unbroken partnership of 39.
Ravendra finished unbeaten after facing 106 balls, striking six fours and two sixes, while Patel contributed a brisk 30 from 30 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes. Captain Tom Latham then declared the innings at 575 for eight.
Greaves led the West Indies bowling with figures of 2 for 83, supported by Seales (2-100) and Chase (2-154).
King and Campbell strike back with authority
Facing a daunting deficit, the West Indies’ openers answered emphatically. In the final 90 minutes, King and Campbell batted with freedom and intent, scoring at nearly five runs an over on an unresponsive pitch.
King looked fluent from the outset, striking Zak Foulkes for consecutive boundaries in the seventh over, before dispatching Jacob Duffy to the fence three overs later.
Campbell brought up the team’s fifty inside 10 overs with a crisp drive straight down the ground off Michael Rae.
Unbeaten openers shift the mood
King advanced into his forties with another boundary off Foulkes and reached his second Test half-century from just 63 balls by guiding Duffy past backward point for four.
At stumps, King was unbeaten on 55 from 78 balls, having struck nine boundaries, while Campbell stood firm on 45 not out from 60 deliveries, including seven fours.
Their unbroken partnership transformed the tone of the match and set the stage for a compelling third day, with the West Indies refusing to yield despite New Zealand’s imposing total.
