New Zealand collapse after Kane Williamson’s fifty as rain interrupts first day of first Test against West Indies | Cricket News
New Zealand finished at 231-9 on a rain-shortened opening day of the first Test against the West Indies in Christchurch on Tuesday, with Justin Greaves sparking a middle-order collapse after dismissing Kane Williamson for 52 runs.The hosts suffered a spectacular collapse from 94-1 to 148-6 on a bowler-friendly pitch after Williamson’s dismissal, his 38th Test half-century.Michael Bracewell and Nathan Smith staged a recovery with a 52-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Smith scored 23 while Bracewell scored 47 before both were dismissed. Zak Foulkes and Jacob Duffy were both on four runs when poor light stopped play after 70 overs, following the dismissal of Matt Henry for eight.“It fluctuated throughout the day and I think we would be pretty happy with where we ended up at the end of the day,” Bracewell said. “It was a bit of old school West Indies. You grew up hearing about the West Indies fast bowlers and that was certainly the case today. It was an exciting challenge.”Williamson and Tom LathamDevon Conway’s 93-run stand after the early dismissal of Devon Conway provided early resistance for New Zealand. West Indies captain Roston Chase elected to bowl first after winning the toss, taking advantage of the green wicket and heavy cloud cover.The first session, extended by a 90-minute rain break, saw New Zealand reach 17-1 in 10.3 overs before lunch was called due to rain. Williamson, playing his first Test innings in a year, reached his half-century before he edged Greaves’ delivery to Alick Athanaze at second slip.The collapse intensified when Greaves dismissed Latham for 24, followed by Jayden Seales who removed Rachin Ravindra for three. West Indies claimed three wickets for nine runs in 21 deliveries. Will Young and Tom Blundell added 17 runs before Young fell for 14, giving Johann Layne his first Test wicket.Blundell reached 29 before becoming the first test victim of debutant Ojay Shields early in the final session. Shields, who had earlier lost the wicket of Williamson on 33 due to a no-ball, finished with figures of 2–34 after also claiming the wicket of Bracewell. Greaves finished with 2-35 while Kemar Roach took 2-47.
