PORT OF SPAIN – New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum believes one bad session cost his side the second cricket Test against West Indies, and says they need to stick to their game plan if they are to win the third Test and the series.
The Black Caps won the opening Test by 186 runs inside four days in Jamaica to take a 1-0 lead in the series but slumped to a disappointing ten-wicket defeat in the second Test at Queen’s Park Oval which finished Friday.
Opting to bat first, New Zealand were 159 for three at tea on the opening day but lost seven wickets for 62 runs in just over an hour in the final session, to be dismissed for 221.
“I thought right throughout the Test, barring that one session … we were pretty good,” McCullum said.
“I thought the application and the intensity with which our seamers bowled was outstanding and something we can be really proud of. On another day they could have easily knocked the top off the West Indies batting order.”
Even when trailing by 239 runs on first innings after West Indies piled up 460 all out, the Black Caps showed plenty of character to battle back from 212 for eight after tea on the penultimate day, to 331 all out at lunch on the final day.
They were led by gutsy wicketkeeper BJ Watling who finished unbeaten on 66, in 6-1/2 hours at the crease, along with tail-ender Mark Craig who top-scored with 67.
“BJ’s fast becoming my favourite cricketer actually – his strength of character and fighting qualities [stand out],” McCullum noted.
“The guy never complains. He gets on with the job, he goes out there and keeps for a hundred and something overs and then bats for seven hours trying to save a Test match for his country.” (CMC)
