Hamilton: A brutal spell from left-arm pacer Neil Wagner (3/42) helped New Zealand to a series whitewash, winning the second Test by 240 runs on the fourth day against the West Indies here Tuesday.
The tourists, set a target of 444, were 203/9 at tea with Sunil Ambris retired hurt and unable to continue batting. Earlier, New Zealand had won the first test by an innings and 67 runs in Wellington.
Resuming the day on an overnight score of 30/2, the Caribbeans kept on losing wickets at regular intervals until Roston Chase (64, 98b, 8×4) and Raymon Reifer (29, 105b, 5×4) provided some resistance. The duo put on 78 runs for the sixth wicket before the former was done by a Wagner bouncer to the safe hands of Colin de Grandhomme. Kemar Roach (32, 44b, 4×4, 1×6) played a good hand lower down the order.
The hostile Wagner accounted for most of the damage in the Windies second innings with his short-ball barrage targeting the body. Ambris had to be taken to hospital after a vicious blow to the forearm by Wagner. Overnight batsman Shai Hope (23) also required on-field medical attention after being on the forearm by a rising Wagner delivery before holing out to de Grandhomme off the same bowler.
However, Trent Boult (2/52) reached his 200-wicket milestone in his 52nd Test match when he had Kraig Brathwaite out offering a simple catch to Kane Williamson.
Brief scores: New Zealand 373 & 291/8 decl beat West Indies 221 & 203/9 (Roston Chase 64; Neil Wagner 3/42) by 240 runs.
Agence france-presse
