BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Sulieman Benn starred in an action-packed afternoon session as the West Indies wrested the initiative from New Zealand by reducing the visitors to 217 for seven at tea on the first day of the third Test at Kensington Oval in Barbados yesterday.
Resuming after lunch at 95 for two, the Black Caps were undone by the left-arm spinner’s excellence as he snared four wickets and also took a brilliant catch at gully that accounted for the dangerous Ross Taylor.
Taylor and Kane Williamson extended their third-wicket partnership to 74 and looked set for more lengthy occupation of the crease when Williamson fell for 43 to a catch at slip by Darren Bravo in the third over of the session. Taylor, on 45, then got a delivery from Kemar Roach that took the shoulder of the bat and Benn flung himself to his right at gully to come up with the catch and give the fast bowler his third wicket of the innings.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and all-rounder Jimmy Neesham counter-attacked with a succession of boundaries in a 54-run fifth-wicket partnership before Benn removed McCullum for 31 via a top-edge that was comfortably held by Darren Bravo at slip. AFP
