Quote:[size=1.35em]For their part, Roach and Holder were the only West Indians who appeared capable to taking a wicket. Until Jerome Taylor grabbed a return catch off Tim Southee in the brief final period of play, no one else did. In his third match since his shoulder operation last October, Roach has been at his penetrative best.
With his eighth ball of the day, he won a clear lbw verdict against New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and returned after the first rain break to reach his deserved landmark in his 26th Test, BJ Wattling slapping a catch to Holder at backward point. He became the 19th West Indian to reach 100 wickets; the last was Fidel Edwards.
Roach operated exclusively from the north, the Joel Garner end. His 12.1 overs on the day cost him just 25 for his two wickets. The debutant Holder had caused problems with his controlled bounce and movement in five overs in the closing overs of the previous afternoon. Ross Taylor had been his first, esteemed Test wicket.
Yet it was 22 overs and an hour and 35 minutes into the day before captain Ramdin summoned him. He needed nine balls to break Williamson’s growing partnership of 91 with the belligerent Jimmy Neesham.
The free-hitting left-hander smashed four sixes — three off Shillingford, one of Taylor — in 51 off 67 balls then drove into Kraigg Brathwaite’s midrift at short extra-cover.
It might have been the cue for a lengthy spell for Holder. Instead, he was limited to five overs while the spinners, Shillingford and Sulieman Benn, leaked runs. Shillingford’s 15 overs on the day cost 70, Benn’s 16 went for 60. Strange, indeed.[/size]