Watling ponders lack of reward

New Zealand

Wicketkeepeer BJ Watling suggested there was a tinge of misfortune to New Zealand's exploits, as the West Indies climbed to a formidable score of 310 for five – and promising 89-run lead – on day two of the second Test in Trinidad on Tuesday.

Wicketkeepeer BJ Watling suggested there was a tinge of misfortune to New Zealand's exploits, as the West Indies climbed to a formidable score of 310 for five – and promising 89-run lead – on day two of the second Test in Trinidad on Tuesday.

Centurions Darren Bravo and Kraigg Brathwaite battled through some tricky periods against a determined visiting attack, which managed just four wickets in 84 overs at Queen's Park Oval.

"We bowled without a lot of reward. We beat the bat a lot, didn't quite find the edges, and yeah, I mean that's Test cricket for you. The West Indies fought through the tough periods and cashed in," said Watling.

"They played well to put us under pressure, but we kept coming, and I think you can look at the last spell from Trent Boult and Tim Southee, still ran in hard and put Shivnarine Chanderpaul under a lot of pressure there."

Seamer Boult was nursing illness, but still managed to add the wicket of Brathwaite to the removal of the dangerous Chris Gayle a day earlier. Bowling with pace and aggression, the left-armer defied sickness – and impressed Watling.

"Yes, he had a little bit of a fever, I think, but I don't know, he ran in there in the end and gave it his all, so it was good in the end to see our two spearheads running in at full tilt in the end. That Brathwaite wicket was reward for Trent's hard work as well," he added.

The veteran Chanderpaul and nightwatchman Kemar Roach will resume on four not out and zero not out respectively on Wednesday.

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