WELLINGTON, New Zealand — West Indies captain Roston Chase did not mince words after his side suffered a nine-wicket defeat to New Zealand inside three days of the second Test on Friday, describing the batting performance as deeply disappointing and out of step with the effort shown by the bowlers.
The West Indies’ struggles with the bat defined the match. After being dismissed for 205 in their first innings, they fared even worse in the second, collapsing for 128. Only four batters reached double figures, and just two managed scores of 25 or more, figures that left the bowlers with little to defend.
Bowlers keep hope alive
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Chase emphasized that the batting failures were magnified by the discipline and resilience shown by the bowling unit, which held New Zealand to 278 in their first innings and kept the contest alive longer than the scoreline might suggest.
“I’m obviously disappointed. I thought we were in a good position up to this morning,” Chase said. “Even though in the first innings we thought that we should have gotten some more runs with a number of batsmen getting some starts, but we didn’t really convert into anything big.”
Missed opportunities compound the damage
The captain believed the match slipped away not because conditions were overwhelming, but because of repeated lapses at crucial moments.
“We thought that we left some runs out there in the first innings and we thought that we would have gotten those runs in the second innings, but it didn’t happen,” he said. “So I’m very disappointed for us after the bowlers really put up their hands and brought us back into the game.”
Sharp contrast to Christchurch heroics
The collapse was all the more frustrating given how recently the West Indies had showcased their batting depth. Just days earlier in Christchurch, they produced a record 457 for six in the second innings of the first Test to force a draw.
“A different game, different conditions,” Chase acknowledged, “but I still thought the pitch was one that we could score runs on. Personally, I thought it was not as tough as the first game in Christchurch.”
He added, “I thought in the first innings in Christchurch the ball was doing a whole lot, but I didn’t think that was the case here.”
Crucial errors at key moments
According to Chase, the decisive damage came from mistakes that snowballed and left the team constantly chasing the game.
“I just thought that we made some mistakes at some crucial points in the game and we just never really got our feet back into the game today,” he admitted.
Despite the setback, Chase insisted the West Indies remain focused on ending the series on a positive note when the third and final Test begins on December 18 at Mount Maunganui.
“It was and always will be the motivation for this team to win a game in New Zealand,” he said. “The last time we won was in 1995, so we want to leave here with a win.”
Confidence in the squad remains
The captain believes the ingredients for success are already in place, particularly with the ball.
“We came close in the first innings, and we still think that we are capable enough to get a win,” Chase said. “But it’s just for the batting to be consistent, because the bowlers have shown that they are capable of getting us those 20 wickets that we need to get.”
For West Indies, the challenge is now clear: match the bowlers’ bite with runs on the board, and turn disappointment into redemption at Mount Maunganui.
