(Cricinfo) Henry Nicholls moved past 150 and found excellent lower-order support from Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner as New Zealand pushed towards a formidable first-innings total on a pitch that still has plenty to offer the fast bowlers. With the West Indies fielders continuing to put chances down, New Zealand added 128 runs at 5.12 an over during a punishing first session to go to lunch at 422 for 8.
Sixty-three of those runs came during an unbroken ninth-wicket stand between Nicholls and Wagner, the latter going after the predominantly short-ball tactics of the West Indies fast bowlers and rushing to 48 off 33 balls before the lunch interval interrupted his quest for a maiden Test-match fifty. It would be a most appropriate way for Wagner to celebrate his 50th Test.
New Zealand lost two wickets in the session, both to Alzarri Joseph, who came on immediately after the drinks break and created chances with his angle from wide of the crease. Jamieson nicked to second slip while looking to drive on the up, and Tim Southee played on – much like BJ Watling on day one – while cramped for room by the angle and extra bounce.
Either side of that, though, it was all New Zealand, with Nicholls adding just 43 to his overnight score but holding the lower order together and shutting West Indies down entirely from one end.
