Some attacking batting by the West Indies put New Zealand on the back foot at lunch as the home side reached 159 for two on the second day of the third Test at Kensington Oval on Friday. Replying to the tourists' first innings total of 293, Kraigg Brathwaite emerged as the unlikely hero. The opener stroked his way to 68 to follow up his "Man of the Match" innings of 129 in the second Test in Trinidad, before falling to fast-medium paceman Neil Wagner just before the interval.
He put on 79 for the first wicket with Chris Gayle and continued to score freely in another useful second-wicket stand with Kirk Edwards that produced 74 runs before a mistimed off-drive was well-held by Tim Southee diving low to his left at cover. New Zealand's first wicket of the morning came with the introduction into the attack of off-spinner Mark Craig, who induced the belligerent Gayle into a lofted hit and Mark Rutherford judged the steepling catch well to send the dangerous left-hander back to the pavilion for 42.
Like Brathwaite, whose innings spanned 116 deliveries and included ten fours, Edwards continued in the positive vein that brought him 55 in the first innings at Queen's Park Oval. He struck Craig for six over long-off to set the tone for his innings, prompting New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum to introduce part-time spinner Kane Williamson, whose bowling action was reported as suspect by the umpires during the second Test.
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