Chris Gayle and Kieran Powell continued to pile on the misery for New Zealand on the third morning, swelling their partnership past the 200 mark. Gayle crowned his Test comeback with a century, while Powell was within sight of his maiden Test ton. Like yesterday, both batsmen offered chances off successive balls but New Zealand couldn’t grab the opportunities, literally.
It was as if Gayle’s century was scripted. Given his stupendous limited-overs form, a Test century was there for the taking against a bowling attack low on confidence and form. Gayle started the day with a flat six over long-off off Daniel Vettori to take him to the nineties. Keen to reach his landmark with a flourish he pulled a short delivery by Chris Martin and just about cleared the rope to get from 97 to 103. Gayle punched the air and acknowledged his 14th Test century, one that will be talked about for long, given that it came after an exile of one-and-a-half years.
New Zealand relied on Neil Wagner’s reverse swing to possibly sneak in a wicket or two with the old ball. With the ball swinging in sharply towards the pads, a silly mid-on and short midwicket was placed for the checked drive. It didn’t change New Zealand’s luck as Powell managed to chip it over midwicket and keep out the fuller deliveries. One one occasion, Gayle miscued an on drive and yet managed to beat mid-on comfortably. It was that sort of morning for New Zealand.
A brief shower halted play for close to 20 minutes, but the rain failed to spice up the pitch. The patient Powell couldn’t resist a slash over gully that brought up the double-century stand, the ninth in West Indies history. It was also the highest partnership for any wicket by West Indies since December 2010, when Gayle last played a Test. It only underlined Gayle’s impact in the side and why they missed him so much.
Powell entered the 90s with a swept four off Vettori shortly before lunch. Gayle offered his second chance of the innings when the ball turned, kissed the glove and lobbed to first slip where Ross Taylor fluffed a straightforward take. Kane Williamson nearly had Powell the following ball when the batsman tamely chipped him past Brendon McCullum at midwicket. The pair need only 54 runs to beat the West Indian opening partnership record set by the legendary pair of Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge in 1990.
