West Indies built on their advantage from the third day to secure a lead of 171, their first 150-plus first-innings lead since the Multan Test against Pakistan in 2006. The hosts began the day 91 ahead with a set Narsingh Deonarine at the crease, and they played out an entire session, taking their score to 522. The fourth day pitch didn’t hold any demons as New Zealand found the going tough again. It was as if they went through the motions, waiting for the batsmen to perish while playing the big shots. Sammy signaled his intent at the start by putting away the first ball of the day for a boundary. The slowness of the track meant that the batsmen still had to be patient and wait for the loose balls. Driving through the line wasn’t as easy as it was on the second day, when Chris Gayle took guard.
Deonarine had a close call when a thick outside edge beat Kane Williamson at slip and raced to the boundary. He settled on playing straighter, driving on the up and just clearing the non-striker Sammy. His best shot of the morning was a deliberate glide, off Chris Martin, past the big gap between the wicketkeeper and slip. He crashed the following ball past point and ended the over by smacking a half volley past mid-off. Martin had the last laugh when Deonarine pushed loosely outside the off stump and played onto his stumps.
Sammy continued to look positive, punishing the wide ones, and helped himself to a six over deep midwicket to bring up his half-century. West Indies then brought up their 500 – their first since the Mumbai Test last year – and the 150 lead. Vettori, in one of his more difficult outings, finally had a wicket when Sammy got a top edge off a slog sweep. New Zealand then took the final wicket at the stroke of lunch.
