North Sound (Antigua), July 30 (IANS/CMC) Kemar Roach put the chains in motion before Chris Gayle coolly navigated the West Indies to a nine-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first Test here Sunday.
Roach snared 5-60 from 23.2 overs, as New Zealand were bowled out for 272 in their second innings about 45 minutes before tea on the final day, CMC reports.
It was the fifth time in 20 Tests that Roach has claimed five scalps and emphasised his role as the current strike bowler in the Windies attack.
Gayle, a century-maker in the first innings, then gathered a typically authoritative, unbeaten 64, becoming the first West Indies batsman to score 1,000 runs against the Black Caps in Tests, as the home team confidently chased down 102 for victory.
He reached his 50 from just 42 balls with a lofted straight drive off Neil Wagner for four before the modest, but enthusiastic crowd at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground saw fellow left-hander Assad Fudadin formalise victory when he turned a delivery from Daniel Vettori into square leg for a single about 45 minutes after tea.
Opener Kieran Powell made 30 and was the only West Indies casualty in the run chase, when he was caught at backward point from a flawed cut at a short, rising ball from Doug Bracewell with 25 still needed.
The result gave the West Indies a 1-0 lead in the series, which concludes with the final Test, starting Thursday at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
It was the first victory for the West Indies in 11 Tests against New Zealand.
The previous victory – 16 years ago at Kensington Oval in Barbados – came when Courtney Walsh’s side conquered Lee Germon’s by 10 wickets, a match that featured Sherwin Campbell’s highest Test score of 208.
Rain swept across the ground and stopped play for about 40 minutes after the start.
–IANS/CMC
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