The opening session was all about survival as New Zealand lost two early wickets and weathered the storm with patient batting on a Sabina Park pitch that appeared tougher to bat on compared to the first-day surface in Antigua for the first Test. The moisture left by the overnight rain prompted Darren Sammy to bowl first and his seamers induced mistakes from the top order with an incisive opening spell, but West Indies would have been happier had they nipped out at least one more before lunch.
With Ravi Rampaul injured, West Indies opted for the bustling Tino Best to partner Kemar Roach. Best made an impact straightaway, beating the batsmen with pace and extra lift from a good length. There was no swing on offer, but movement off the pitch which kept the openers guessing. A couple of outside edges fell short of the packed slip cordon, Guptill took one on the chest, and it looked like a breakthrough was just a matter of time.
It came via Roach, though West Indies should consider themselves fortunate. Roach bowled it on the channel outside off, induced the half-hearted drive from BJ Watling, and the ball landed safely in Chris Gayle’s hands at first slip. But as is routine with Roach, the umpires checked for the front-foot no-ball and replays showed his foot landing on the line, with a tiny part of his boot behind it, and sliding forward. The umpires went by the first point of contact and gave the bowler the benefit of the doubt. It wasn’t the most convincing decision but Watling had to go.
