KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Typically stoic batting from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and a career-best knock from Kemar Roach allowed West Indies to formalise a five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second Test yesterday here.
Chanderpaul was not out on 43 and Roach made 41, as West Indies successfully completed their chase of 206 for victory on the fourth day.
Chanderpaul and Roach put on 70 for the fifth wicket to keep the West Indies firmly on track for the victory.
Chanderpaul struck just one boundary from 101 balls in 148 minutes and Roach hit four fours from 60 balls in 80 balls.
Veteran left-hander Chanderpaul formalised the victory about 40 minutes before lunch, when he chopped a delivery from part-time off-spinner Kane Williamson to third man for a single.
The result gave West Indies a 2-0 series victory, following a nine-wicket victory in the first Test, which ended last Monday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua. It was their first series sweep, since Ridley Jacobs’ side beat Bangladesh 2-0 close to a decade ago, and helped West Indies to move ahead of the Black Caps in the ICC World Test Rankings to No.7.
Roach and Chanderpaul comfortably batted through all but five minutes of the first hour, after West Indies resumed from their overnight total of 135 for four.
Fast bowler Roach treated the small crowd at Sabina Park to a few attractive strokes, including an imperious straight drive and a flambuoyant cover drive in Tim Southee’s 12th over.
He also slapped Neil Wagner square for his third boundary, bringing up the 50-run partnership with Chanderpaul before he looked to drive Williamson over cover, got a thick outside edge, and was caught at backward point.
Deonarine joined Chanderpaul and they carried West Indies over the threshold.
