West Indies v New Zealand 'A', Day 2 of 4

The West Indies made up with their bowling and fielding on the 2nd day what they lost by their batting on the 1st. After dismissing New Zealand "A" for 193, giving them a nice lead of 39, after making 232 in their 1st innings, the West Indies are 50-0, after 24 overs, in their 2nd innings, an overall lead of 89. Adrian Griffith is 23 not out, including four fours, while Chris Gayle is 26 not out, also including four boundaries.

The rains came with about half an hour and six more overs to be completed for the 2nd day.

Earlier, New Zealand "A" started the 2nd day on 90-2, with Mark Richardson on 38 not out and Bruce Martin, the night-watchman, yet to score. The partnership did not last, but, surprisingly, it was the better batsman, Richardson, who went first.

He had added only 01 run to his overnight score when he played, half-cocked, to a good Reon King delivery, the 5th of the morning, the resulting edge speeding to Brian Lara, who took a very sharp catch at 1st slip. Richardson out for 39, including five 4's; New Zealand "A" 92-3.

Bruce Martin too was soon out. Similarly, he too had only added 01 when he drove full-bloodedly at Nixon McLean, the resulting scorcher ending up at cover point for the substitute fieldsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, on for Franklyn Rose, to take a straightforward catch. Rose was off with a strained hamstring muscle. Bruce Martin out for 01; New Zealand "A" 92-4.

Glen Sulzberger, in at No. 5, was promptly dropped, twice, from the first two deliveries he faced. He tried to pull leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo through the leg side, the resulting under edge just eluding wicket-keeper Wayne Phillip's gloves. The very next delivery, Nagamootoo again found the edge, but this time Chris Gayle, at slip, spilled the catch to get the batsman off the mark.

Soon, though, Sulzberger was very responsible for the run out of Jacob Oram, who batted at No. 6. Sulzberger played a delivery to short cover and started immediately for a single, putting great pressure on Oram at the non-striker's end to react. Adrian Griffith at cover reacted quicker than Oram, and his return to Ramnaresh Sarwan at the striker's end beat Oram by a long way. Oram run out for 00; New Zealand "A" 95-5.

Sulzberger and Jerrod Englefield then put on the best partnership of New Zealand "A"s innings with some encouraging strokes. They carried the score from 95-5 to 158-6, a partnership of 63, before Sulzberger became the 1st wicket after lunch. He pushed tentatively at a Jimmy Adams leg-break, the resulting edge lodging in wicket-keeper Wayne Phillip's glove this time. Sulzberger out for 37, made in 123 deliveries, and including six fours; New Zealand "A" 158-6.

The last four wickets then added only 35 runs as the West Indian bowlers, especially fast bowler Nixon McLean, thwarted the very blustery conditions to bring the innings to a quick end. 158-6 became 176-7 when Englefield tried to back-cut to Mahendra Nagamootoo's top-spinner, the resulting under-edge cannoning onto the stumps. Englefield bowled for 30 made from 143 deliveries and containing four boundaries.

At 192, Scott Styris was comprehensively beaten and bowled by a very fast Nixon McLean leg-cutter. Styris out for 22 which included four fours and lasted 42 deliveries. Darryl Tuffey was promptly out, caught at the wicket from McLean's bowling for 00; New Zealand "A" 192-9 and then Chris Martin was run out going for an impossible run, Nagamootoo at cover point hitting the stumps directly.

New Zealand "A" were all out for 193 from 92.2 overs, leaving the West Indies with a lead of 39. Nixon McLean was the West Indies best bowler with 3-37 from 21.2 overs, while Mahendra Nagamootoo had 2-68 from 34 overs and Reon King had 2-28 from 19 overs. Overall, 33 minutes were lost in the New Zealand "A" innings due to rain.

So, the West Indies will start the 3rd day at 50-0, an overall lead of 89. They could well use the 3rd day to get some good batting practice in.