QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand (CMC) — West Indies got an early sight of the depth of the batting that New Zealand may be able to call upon during their two-Test series next month, before they drew their warm-up match against the Blackcaps’ reserves yesterday.
After they were bowled out for 366 to take a first innings lead of 58, the Windies bowlers met a roadblock, when Test hopefuls Will Young and Devon Conway carried New Zealand “A” to 124 for one in their second innings before stumps were drawn for the final time in the three-day match at John Davies Oval.
Shannon Gabriel bowled first innings century-maker Rachin Ravindra for 10 in the sixth over after lunch, but the Caribbean side could make no further inroads into the opposition batting, and birthday boy Young, not out on 64, and left-hander Conway, not out on 41, indulged themselves to put on 97 unbroken.
The visitors will take careful note of the two batsmen because Young could earn a Test debut during the forthcoming series, and the South African-born Conway, who qualified to play for New Zealand this past August, was picked to face Kieron Pollard’s team in the three Twenty20 Internationals at month end.
Earlier, West Indies extended their first innings after they continued from their overnight total of 329 for six to give the remainder of their batsmen in the Test squad and reserves an opportunity to spend time in the middle.
But no one gave chief selector Roger Harper, who is on the tour of New Zealand, and Head Coach Phil Simmons any reasons to scratch their heads before the Windies were bowled out about 45 minutes before lunch.
Nkrumah Bonner made 24 and left-hander Shayne Moseley, typically an opener, but batting at eight in this line-up, was not out on 11, an obdurate innings spanning almost an hour-and-a-half.