Sodhi respects Windies aggression

Cricket365
June 19, 2014

Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi admitted New Zealand were largely outdone by a decidedly aggressive West Indian batting order, as day three of the second Test in Port of Spain concluded in intriguing fashion on Wednesday.

Debutant Jermaine Blackwood complemented fine centuries from batsman Darren Bravo and Kraigg Brathwaite with a solid half-ton to afford the Windies a final total of 460 all out – and hefty 239-run lead.

The tourists later reduced the deficit to 166, moving to 73 for one on the back of an unbeaten 38 and 30 not out from the in-form Kane Williamson and opener Tom Latham.

"You'd want to bowl them out for a 100. But the West Indies batted well. They had a different approach to what they had in the last game. They played a little more aggressively and it worked out for them in the end," said Sodhi.

"Tommy and Kane are at the crease right now looking pretty poised, so hopefully we can continue that. I think we just have to keep on sort of having our small targets.

"Partnerships are obviously going to be key, just like Kane and Tom. I think if we continue to do that we are going to be successful and if we are successful, we can think about winning on day five."

Sodhi was the pick of the bowlers on Wednesday, completing figures of four for 96, including the important dismissals of Blackwood and the veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul, in conditions void of standout turn and bounce.

"It was a pretty flat wicket. You expect that on day two and three. It's a credit to the boys for toiling quite hard and I obviously got a few rewards, so it's good. But I think it comes down to how we bat in this innings to determine how we are poised in this Test match," he added.

The Black Caps sport a one-nil lead in the three-match series after a 186-run triumph inside four days at Sabina Park in Kingston earlier this month. Bridgetown will host the third and final fixture.