da dobrowin： A double century from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and some less than convincingbatting left New Zealand A 382 runs behind the West Indians with 6 firstinnings wickets standing at the end of the second of three days at OwenDelany Park, Taupo
Peter Hoare06-Dec-1999A double century from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and some less than convincingbatting left New Zealand A 382 runs behind the West Indians with 6 firstinnings wickets standing at the end of the second of three days at OwenDelany Park, Taupo.Chanderpaul’s innings was an essay in judgment and concentration. 112 notout overnight, he rebuilt his innings from scratch on an overcast morning.If the bowling was accurate, as it was more often than yesterday, he wasunconcerned. The bad ball would be awaited and dispatched. He gave onechance, to Sinclair at point off Drum when he was 138As might be expected of a short man, he is strong square of the wicket onboth sides, but also played some elegant and powerful front foot drives. Hepassed 200 in mid afternoon with an untypically streaky boundary through avacant third man. In all he hit 34 fours. There was also a six, swept offleg spinner Walker over mid wicket. He batted for 560 minutes and faced 391deliveries.Chanderpaul missed the test series against Australia earlier this yearthrough injury. The return of his skill, temperament and tenacity will bevaluable in a batting line up that was almost totally dependent on Lara evenin achieving a drawn series.Ricardo Powell resumed on 68 and continued to play his shots without lookingnearly as convincing as on the first day. A vulnerability to the swingingball will have been noted. In his first over Chris Drum beat Powell twiceand also found the outside edge.Powell then hit the third six of his innings into the stand at mid wicket,almost hitting a spectator, a noteworthy feat in itself as there were nomore than a dozen in the ground at that time. He was out trying to repeatthe shot, being caught at mid off by Wiseman for 86 having dominated apartnership of 130 with Chanderpaul.Acting captain Jimmy Adams came in at six in the order. He batted in asimilar manner to Chanderpaul without the same freedom to punish the loosedelivery. His 44 took 208 minutes before Wiseman had him caught at slip byStead, who thus repented for dropping Adams off Wiseman earlier.There was a brief glimpse of the attacking proclivities of Ridley Jacobsbefore the declaration came at tea with the West Indians 450 – 5.New Zealand A stuck to their task throughout and bowled with more disciplinethan on day one. Wiseman, with 3 for 107 deservedly had the best figures.There was, though, a lack of spark about the A team who lacked a Mr. T toget them going. They are the quietest international team seen on a field forsome time.They began their innings having spent almost three consecutive days in thefield, including the end of the game against England A in Christchurch.Matthew Bell will remember the first thirty five minutes of the innings onlyin his nightmares. He ducked the third ball bowled by Courtney Walsh, takinghis eye off it as he did so. The ball did not bounce as high as expected,clattering him on the side of his helmet. Already nursing a sore thumb, hestayed at the crease after receiving attention.In the seventh over he called Stead, his captain, opening partner and rivalfor a test place, for a sharp single. Stead was well short as Walsh followedthrough with a direct hit. Bell collected the bat which he had thrown acrossthe field in frustration only to push Dillon into the hands of Hinds atshort leg next over. Next time he comes to Taupo it will be for the fishing.Vincent was out for a duck in the identical manner and New Zealand A were 6for 3 wickets. The left-handed Richardson led a counter attack, getting offthe mark with a four to third man as he attempted to withdraw his bat fromthe line of the ball. Dillon and Walsh found the edge on a number ofoccasions without reward.This is one of the few West Indian teams since the days of Ramadhin andValentine to contain as many spinners as quick bowlers. Apparent respitecame as early as the fourteenth over with the introduction of off spinnerPerry. However, in his fourth over Perry turned one to find Richardson’soutside edge and he was caught behind for 17. Sinclair (29) and Styris (11)saw the home team through to the close.New Zealand coach David Trist spent much of the dayin conversation with his fellow selectors. They will have seen little toencourage them on the field of play, but received good news of the fitnessof Dion Nash who will be included in the twelve for the first test inHamilton.The West Indian fast bowlers certainly bowled with more fire than those ofNew Zealand A, but the pitch is still true and turning only mildly. Thematch should be saved by the home team on the final day.