Blackwood played some stellar strokes during his knock of 63
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
West Indies debutant Jermaine Blackwood scored a magnificent half-century to help the hosts stay in control against New Zealand on the third day of the second Test in Trinidad.
Blackwood was well supported by veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who scored 47 runs.
Starting out the day on 310/5, Chanderpaul and nightwatchman Kemar Roach put together a 23-run partnership before Roach was caught by James Neesham at midwicket off the bowling of Trent Boult for six runs.
Chanderpaul ended up making 47 runs before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Ish Sodhi.
Chanderpaul was initially given not out, but New Zealand reviewed the decision. The replays showed that the ball was going on to hit leg stump, which led to the third umpire overturning the original decision.
Chanderpaul made a valuable 47
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Blackwood and captain Denesh Ramdin stabilised the innings with a 76-run partnership, during which Blackwood brought up his maiden half-century, before he was caught by Ross Taylor at slip off the bowling of Sodhi.
Blackwood’s outstanding knock of 63 came off 110 balls and included six boundaries and two sixes.
Ramdin went on to make 32 runs before he was caught by Taylor at slip off the bowling of Neesham.
Jerome Taylor only made four runs before he was caught by Mark Craig at long-off off the bowling of Sodhi.
Sodhi was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Boult snapped up three and Neesham, Tim Southee and Kane Williamson chipped in with one wicket apiece as the West Indies were bowled out for 460, giving them a 239-run lead.
Trailing by 239 runs, New Zealand got off to a horrible start as captain Brendon McCullum was given out lbw off the bowling of Taylor for three runs.
McCullum decided to review the decision, but replays showed that the ball was going on to crash into leg stump, which led to the third umpire upholding the original decision.
Tom Latham and Williamson made up for the early loss of McCullum with an unbeaten 64-run partnership before the umpires brought play to an end for the day.
Latham finished on 30 off 112 balls, which included four boundaries, while Williamson remained undefeated on 38 off 118 deliveries, which included five boundaries.
Taylor was the only bowler to take a wicket.
New Zealand finished day three on 73/1 and will continue batting tomorrow at 10:00 local time or 14:00 GMT