New Zealand’s stand-in captain Tom Latham has credited the team’s depth and ability to adapt to various situations for the clinical innings and 12-run victory over West Indies in the second Test as the hosts sealed a 2-0 series sweep at the Basin Reserve on Monday (December 13).
New Zealand had already comprehensively won the first Test and they yet again showed their supremacy even in the absence of their premier batsman and Kane Williamson, who withdrew from the second Test to be with his pregnant partner, to outclass West Indies inside four days in the second Test.
Williamson's replacement Henry Nicholls scored a career-best 174 in their first innings of 460 before the bowlers dismissed the visitors for 131 and 317 with Tim Southee (5/32) and Kyle Jamieson (5/34) were the best bowlers for the hosts in the first innings.
Neil Wagner – who also contributed crucial 66* off 42 balls to New Zealand’s massive first innings total of 460 and Trent Boult each also scalped 3 wickets in the second innings against West Indies.
Latham said after the Test series victory: “Whoever comes into the side we expect them to do their role to the best of their ability. It was about everyone standing up and it was great we were able to do it without Kane. It's great for our squad we do have depth.”
Meanwhile, West Indies captain Jason Holder said there were positives but they couldn’t make the most of the opportunities and suffered a whitewash in the two-match Test series.
Hold told reporters, “I thought our bowlers were outstanding. Just tough we didn't take our opportunities when they came. It just shows that when you give quality players, two, three, or four hands in one Test match they will make you pay.”
The all-rounder was disappointed at his side's lack of consistency but was happy to see the fight in the second innings with John Campbell scoring 68 and Joshua Da Silva scored 57 on debut to take the game to the fourth day against New Zealand.
Holder signed off by saying, “I was pleased to see the fight in the second innings. (There were) positives, (we were) good in patches, but not good enough.”
(With Reuters Inputs)
