NEW ZEALAND v WEST INDIES 1955-56

At Christchurch, February 18, 20, 21. West Indies won by an innings and 64 runs. The Second Test followed closely the pattern of the First. Weekes, following treatment to an injured knee, again batted splendidly and Ramadhin and Valentine once more exposed the extreme weakness of the New Zealand batsmen against good spin bowling. Weekes batted two and a half hours for his fifth consecutive first-class century, but even so, West Indies were 169 for six when he left. New Zealand might have snatched the initiative but for a fine stand between Atkinson and Goddard. While Atkinson attacked the bowling fiercely, his partner played a more restrained, but equally valuable innings. Rain and poor light restricted play to under four hours on the second day, when Reid alone seemed capable of checking Ramadhin. A shooter from Valentine ended his gallant innings and this bowler took over the main burden of attack when New Zealand batted again. Despite more wholehearted hitting by Reid and McGibbon the end was inevitable.