New Zealand Vs West Indies: Five Things We Learned From The 2nd Test At Hamilton

There was no coming out from the deep hole West Indies had put themselves into in the recently concluded second Test match against hosts New Zealand at Hamilton.
After being set a mammoth target of 444 runs, the Windies succumbed once again falling for a paltry 203 runs to hand the hosts a sound 240-run win. New Zealand sealed the two-match Test series by a 2-0 win and kept their impressive run at home in tact. The Kiwis gave the visitors just enough time knowing they can hurt them on the final day despite declaring quite late on the 4th day.
Kane Williamson’s side stood tall and got two wickets at stumps and from there the massacre continued in the fifth day as they were all over the inexperienced Windies. The visitors without their skipper Jason Holder could not spring in a surprise of any sorts and showed the amount of work needed now for them to hit the ground running.
The hosts scored 373 in the 1st innings and declared at 291/8 in the 2nd. In the end that was more than enough to stamp their authority on the Windies whose batting has been a big let down. What was positive from the New Zealand were a collective show especially from the seniors in the side with Ross Taylor leading the way once again.
Here are five things we learned from New Zealand’s astounding 240-run win at Hamilton.
Boult excels in landmark show: Trent Boult reached a special figure of 200 Test wickets after snaring 6 scalps at Hamilton. He became the 6th Black Caps bowler to reach 200 wickets and his partnership with Neil Wagner and Tim Southee was the brightest aspect of New Zealand’s commanding display. The trio of pacers shared the responsibility well and did not allow Windies any room. What was notable once again was that the trio snapped up 15 wickets between themselves and used the little bit of movement available to them.
Veteran Taylor holds his fort: Senior batsman Ross Taylor showed he has a lot of fire under his belly and can make the difference for his side. The 33-year-old scored his 17th Test century in the 2nd innings, drawing him level with his cricketing mentor, the late Martin Crowe. His splendid unbeaten 107 came after a solid 93 runs in the 1st Test. Taylor has been a world class player for New Zealand and his exquisite range of shots were a treat for the fans. His brilliance on the pitch also him notch a fifty in the 1st innings and he was all over the Windies.
Grandhomme stakes his claim: Black Caps all-rounder made the right noises at Hamilton too after doing well in the 1st Test. The 31-year-old looks to have made the No. 7 spot in the side his own. His 76-run stand with Mitchell Santner in the 1st innings was crucial for the hosts to get out from a spot of bother. His dismissal of the in-form Kraigg Brathwaite in the 1st innings shaped it up beautifully. Grandhomme offers the perfect blend of a typical No. 7 and his vital 80 runs along with two scalps was a solid display.
Windies fail to show any learning: The visitors’ batting let them down rather in a dismal manner and once again that cost them. After a disaster show in the 1st Test, one would have expected some fight from the visitors, but once again their batsmen had nothing to offer. Absence of partnerships alongside losing wickets at regular intervals did them in throughout the match. A duck from Kieron Powell in each innings of the Test upfront, paved in the way for others who looked short of confidence.
Brathwaite, Gabriel only bright lights: In a dismal outing for the WI, the duo gave glimpses of some good moments. Stand-in skipper Brathwaite top scored for his side in the 1st innings with a valuable 66 runs. His knack of being consistent atop is a platform their side need to build upon. Moreover the captaincy helped him gain much more in absence of Holder. Meanwhile, Shannon Gabriel was peripheral in the attack and looked threatening for his team. His 6 wickets in the match will help him to surge ahead with a lot of belief.