New Zealand begins Caribbean tour with draw

Falmouth (Jamaica), May 31 (IANS/CMC) The New Zealand cricket team opened its tour of the West Indies with a draw against Jamaica Select X1 in the two-day warm-up match at the Trelawny Multiplex here.

Two late innings partnership Friday helped the Jamaicans to recover from a batting collapse, allowing them to surpass the visitor's first innings total of 112 for six declared at tea on the first day Thursday, reports CMC.

Resuming at its overnight 94 for five, the home side recovered to declare at 171 for nine, a 59-run first-innings lead.

Kenar Lewis added nine runs to his overnight score of 31 to finish with the top score for Jamaica while teaming up with Fabian Allen in a crucial seven wicket stand that yielded 27 runs.

Allen also played a significant role in pushing the total along and contributed 31 before he was trapped lbw by Ish Sodhi.

Ramaal Lewis who was unbeaten on 17 and Christopher Powell played equally important roles as well in an eight wicket partnership that further lifted the local side by an additional 27 runs.

It ended when Powell was caught behind for 17, one of Neil Wagnar's five scalps during an impressive bowling display in which he clean bowled Lewis, Delbert Gayle for four and Aldaine Thomas for a duck.

Wagnar's five wickets came at a cost of 38 runs while Mark Craig picked up three for 17 on the first day before he was rested Friday with a tight quadricep muscle.

With the bat in the second innings, BJ Watling had some solid time in the middle to top score with 50 as did Luke Ronchi (40 not out).

Blackcaps captain Peter Fulton scored 30, including two sixes as New Zealand were 210 for six at stumps.

Odean Brown was the leading wicket taker with three for 56 while Gavon Brown grabbed two for 57 for Jamaica.

New Zealand's next match is against Jamaican XI, a three-day warm-up fixture in Trelawny starting Monday.

Brief Scores:

New Zealand 112 for six decl. and 210 for six ( BJ Watling 50, Luke Ronchi 38 not out, Peter Fulton 30, Odean Brown 3/56, Gavon Brown 2/57) Jamaica Select X1 170 for nine decl. (Kenar Lewis 40, Neil Wagner 5/38, Mark Craig 3/17).

New Zealand 112 for six decl. (Tom Latham 33, Ish Sodhi 22 not out, Luke Ronchi 21, Gavon Brown 2/15) Jamaican XI 94 for five (Kenar Lewis 31 not out, Shacaya Thomas 22, Mark Craig 3/19)

--IANS/CMC
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