Hope bats through eye infection to topscore for WI

Shai Hope batted in sunglasses because of an eye infection, but saw the ball well enough to compile a solid half century against New Zealand on the second day of the first cricket Test on Wednesday (Tuesday night Barbados Time).

While it might have been surprising to many fans to see Hope sporting large reflective glasses under his helmet in gloomy conditions, his first half century against the Black Caps stabilised the West Indies’ first innings after the loss of two early wickets.

It however didn’t save the visitors from disaster as they ended the second day of the first Test trailing by 96 runs. The West Indies were bowled out for 167 in their first innings – 64 runs behind New Zealand who reached 32 without loss in seven overs before stumps.

At the other end Tagenarine Chanderpaul diligently defied the bowling in a half century. He added a 90-run partnership with Hope which helped the West Indies towards parity with New Zealand who made 231 in their first innings.

The accomplishments of Hope and Chanderpaul were magnified by the fact it was a day when the ball consistently beat the bat, when runs had to be grafted. Chanderpaul ended on 52 off 169 balls with three fours, while Hope was a bit more enterprising with a top score of 56 off 107 balls with four boundaries.

Matt Henry bowled with pace and accuracy, applying constant pressure around off stump. He dismissed Alick Athanaze (4), then Roston Chase and Justin Greaves for ‘ducks’ in the same over and finished the day with 3-39.

The West Indies were 157-6 before a late shower forced players from the field. When they returned, the tail had to face the New Zealand pacers in fading light and the last four wickets fell for ten runs. Jacob Duffy captured all four to finish with 5-34 – his first five-wicket haul in his first Test match on home soil.

 The match will resume on Thursday morning (Wednesday 6 p.m. Barbados Time).