New Zealand vs West Indies, 1st Test at Christchurch, NZ vs WI, Dec 02 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary

Dug in short and the ball gets big on him, gets hit on the helmet and is undergoing a concussion check, looks okay to continue, but the light has faded quickly, with dark grey skies overhead and the shadows growing longer, so the players are going off following a short meeting between the umpires

Too short and wide, slapped off the backfoot past point for a four, useful runs

Banged in short and targets his armpits, cramping him for room, he charges and goes for a hook, loses shape and pulls it straight into the hands of deep square leg, departs for 8. Seales with a comfortable catch down his throat

Bustling in, back of a length and curves away from a wide off-stump line, unable to connect on the pull

fraction short and width offered, throws the kitchen sink at it and the ball takes a thick outside edge that sails over the slip cordon and skittles away to the rope. The outfield has become quicker. It's a front-foot no ball as well

Shorter in length and hung away outside off, shuffles across and taps it back to the bowler

Over the wicket, shorter and wide of off, pulled across the line to midwicket, off the toe-end

Over the wicket, good length and given width, opens the face and plays a picturesique cover drive without much feet movement, beautifully laced into the covers and gets off the mark in gorgeous style

Short ball ploy works, he was in a hurry and plays one big shot too many. Gets a well-directed lifter getting big on him, leans back and swats a pull to Chanderpaul at midwicket, departs after an important contribution of 47. Has given a real impetus to the innings with his quickfire knock

drags it a touch short and makes it come back towards middle and off, works it leg side

Hits the deck hard and closer to off-stump, hits the handle and thumb and he's lucky it didn't carry to the fielder at slip

Shorter and slanted in at off, shapes for a big hoik into the leg side and gets an under-edge to the right of the keeper

Around the wicket, dug in short around the line off, gets on top of it and whacks the ball to deep midwicket, taking the aerial route and clearing the fielder at deep

tight line outside off rising from a length or thereabouts, covers his stumps and drives it along the carpet to mid-off

Short of a length and angled in from outside off, takes a good look at it and then opts to leave

Bowls an absolute pearler, landed short and made it deviate a touch in the corridor, doesn't chase it and sees it go past his outside edge

Back of a length and just outside off, works it across the line into the leg side

touch short and swerving away from wide of off, leaves it alone for the keeper to collect

Over the wicket, fuller in length and slants it on middle, covers his stumps and prods the ball down to mid-on

Unable to connect on the cut