Campbell, Brooks resist but NZ on top

Jermaine Blackwood again topscored in the West Indies first innings with 69.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, CMC – West Indies were battling to save the second Test after being forced to follow on and then losing two second innings wickets on day three at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

At lunch taken at 1:05 pm (8:05 pm, Saturday, Eastern Caribbean time), West Indies had reached 73 for two, still trailing by 256 runs after being forced to follow on by 329 runs.

Left-handed opener John Campbell, battling for his future in the squad, was unbeaten on 26 and was partnered by Shamarh Brooks on 19.

Opener John Campbell was fighting for his test place at lunch in the West Indies second innings.

The pair embarked on a repair job in an unbroken third wicket stand so far worth 32 after left-arm pacer Trent Boult removed Kraigg Brathwaite (24) and Darren Bravo (4) in the space of four balls in sixth over of his opening spell.

Brathwaite was taken low down at short fine leg by Will Young after clipping a leg side delivery off his pads while Bravo fended off an aggressive, short ball to Henry Nicholls diving forward at gully, to end the series with a wretched 32 runs from four outings.

Earlier, seamer Tim Southee (5-32) claimed the last two West Indies first innings wickets as New Zealand needed only 26 deliveries to dismiss the Caribbean side for 131.

Wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva was caught at the wicket in the morning’s third over for three while Shannon Gabriel was bowled for two, as the innings folded inside minutes.

Pacer Kyle Jamieson picked up five for 34 on Saturday’s second day.

Jermaine Blackwood top-scored with 69 in the innings but was just one of three batsmen to reach double figures and the only one to pass 15.

West Indies trail the two-match series 1-0 after losing by an innings and 134 runs in Hamilton last week.