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NZ win 3 - 0 NZ gains 17 points; WI loses 17 points
Draw 1.5 - 1.5 WI gains 5 points; NZ loses 5 points
WI win 3 - 0 WI gains 28 points; NZ loses 28 points
Auckland
09 - 13 March 2006
West Indies won the toss and elected to field first.� The decision proved fruitful early, after How (11), Hamish Marshall (11), Fulton (17) and Fleming (14) were dismissed in the first session.� At lunch, New Zealand was struggling at 4 for 70.� New Zealand fought back in the afternoon session.� Despite losing Astle (51), McCullum (19) and Vettori (6), New Zealand added 146 runs in just 27 overs to be far better placed at 7 for 216 at tea.� The scoreboard continued to quickly tick over after tea, but wickets also began to fall.� West Indies dismissed Franklin (14), Bond (3) and Martin (0) to leave Styris stranded on 103 not out from 122 balls, his fifth Test century, in an innings of 275 runs.� The bowling honours were shared by Bradshaw (3 for 73 off 23.1 overs) and Smith (3 for 71 off 18 overs).� West Indies began their reply strongly, however, after adding 47 runs in 14 overs, the dismissal of Ganga (20) saw Bradshaw (0) and Gayle (25) fall in the space of two runs and ten balls.� By stumps, West Indies was 3 for 51, still 224 runs in arrears.
New Zealand claimed the prize wicket of Lara (5) early on the second morning and later Chanderpaul (13) was caught at 5 for 90.� However, West Indies then regrouped and batted through to be 5 for 160 at lunch, only 115 runs in arrears.� New Zealand persevered after lunch and relentlessly dismissed Sarwan (62), Smith (38), Bravo (59), Ramdin (9) and Edwards (1) to have West Indies all out for 257 runs at tea.� Martin was the best of the bowlers with 3 for 80 off 17 overs.�� New Zealand began their second innings and added only eleven runs to their first innings lead of 18 runs before Marshall (1) was caught.� New Zealand then regrouped and took the total to 66 runs before How (37) was caught.� Within another nine overs, Fulton (28) and Styris (5) had also returned to the pavilion and by stumps, New Zealand was tottering at 4 for 98, with a lead of only 116 runs.�
West Indies needed quick wickets on the third morning to limit the eventual final innings victory target.� They applied the pressure and the wickets tumbled, with Fleming (33), Franklin (20) and Astle (13) all dismissed in the space of 28 runs for the home side to be precariously placed at 7 for 146.� By lunch, New Zealand was 7 for 161, with a slender overall lead of 189 runs.� However, New Zealand managed to roll back the West Indies advantage through the afternoon session, adding a further 81 runs to their lead for the loss of only Vettori (33) to be 8 for 242 at tea.� By the time New Zealand eventually lost McCullum (74) and Martin (0) and was all out for 272 runs, they had built an imposing lead of 290 runs and had taken a firm advantage, although the required run rate was only 1.3 runs per over with over two days remaining.� Gayle was the best of the West Indian bowlers with 4 for 71 off 30.1 overs.� West Indies began their chase for the 291 runs needed for victory in a composed fashion, adding 48 runs in 18 overs without loss when stumps were pulled.
Rain prevented play during the morning session on day four. When play eventually got under way, West Indies began in a positive fashion, adding exactly 100 runs before Gayle (82) was caught. With only 143 more runs required, West Indies appeared ready to coast to victory, however, the dismissal of Lara (0) only nine runs later made the task substantially easier for New Zealand. By tea, West Indies was still well placed at 2 for 160, but with Lara back in the pavilion their chances were reduced. New Zealand added more pressure when Chanderpaul (15) was caught at 3 for 182 before West Indies steadied somewhat and took the total to 3 for 211. However, in the final twenty overs of the day, the tourists began to self-destruct with Ganga (95), Smith (0), Sarwan (4), Bravo (17) and Ramdin (15) falling in the space of only 35 runs. At stumps, West Indies was 8 for 246, still 45 runs short of victory with Bradshaw and Taylor at the crease and Edwards in reserve.
The advantage quickly swung to New Zealand on the final morning when Bradshaw (10) was caught at 9 for 251. With 40 runs needed for victory, the numbers ten and eleven prodded around until Taylor (13) was bowled by Bond and West Indies was all out for 263 runs. Bond was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 69 off 27.3 overs as New Zealand claimed victory by a mere 27 runs.
Second Test
Wellington
17 - 20 March 2006
West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first. The tourists made a competent start, until having scored 43 runs when Gayle (30), Ganga (15) and Lara (1) were all caught in the space of six runs and West Indies were in trouble at 3 for 49. West Indies then steadied and took the total to 80 before Chanderpaul (8) was caught on the stroke of lunch. New Zealand maintained the pressure during the afternoon session and dismissed Bravo (9), Ramdin (2) and Lewis (22) before rain swept across the ground and an early tea was taken with the score 7 for 161. When the sky cleared, only seven more overs were bowled during which Morton (63) was trapped in front. When bad light stopped play, West Indies were in trouble with the score 8 for 182.
New Zealand quickly wrapped up the West Indian innings for 192 runs on the second morning after catching Powell (16) and Edwards (0). Franklin was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 53 off 20 overs, his third five-wicket haul in Tests. New Zealand began their reply and lost openers Hamish Marshall (3) and How (0) in consecutive overs to be 2 for 3. New Zealand then consolidated through until going to lunch at 2 for 90. West Indies struggled to hold the home side during the afternoon session. They managed to catch Fleming (97) mid way through the session, but that was their only wicket as New Zealand went to tea at 3 for 207 with a lead of 15 runs. However, West Indies then had the better of the evening session, dismissing Fulton (75), Styris (8), McCullum (23) and Vettori (42) to have New Zealand 7 for 335 at stumps, but with a lead of 143 runs.
West Indies managed to carry their momentum into the third morning, dismissing Astle (65), Mills (10) and Martin (0) to have New Zealand all out for 372 runs. Edwards was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 65, his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests. West Indies began their second innings, needing 180 runs to erase the deficit. After a competent start, Ganga (23) was caught at 1 for 54 just before the tourists went to lunch at 1 for 57. New Zealand made the better start to the afternoon session, dismissing Morton (7) and Lara (1) in the space of nine runs to have West Indies 3 for 84. West Indies then batted through to tea to be 4 for 116, having lost Gayle (68) just before the break. Three overs after play resumed the umpires offered light to the batsmen who accepted with the score 4 for 118. No further play was then possible so West Indies finished that day 62 runs in arrears.
New Zealand enforced their advantage on the fourth morning when Bravo (7) was caught at 5 for 129 and then Ramdin (7) was bowled on the stroke of lunch at 6 for 156 while West Indies remained 24 runs in arrears. New Zealand further tightened the screws after lunch, dismissing Chanderpaul (36), Bradshaw (2), Powell (7) and Lewis (40) in the space of 52 runs to have West Indies all out for 215 runs and a lead of only 35 runs. Mills was the most successful bowler with 3 for 29 off 9.5 overs. New Zealand then reached the 36 run target in eight overs, with Marshall (23*) and How (9*) the not out batsmen as the home side claimed a ten-wicket victory.
Third Test
Napier
25 - 29 March 2006
A wet outfield from overnight rain delayed play until well into the afternoon. Eventually, New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first. West Indies took the total to 37 runs before Gayle (30) was caught. In the 22 overs of play before tea, West Indies took the score to 1 for 75. Five overs after tea, the umpires offered bad light to the batsmen and West Indies accepted with the score 1 for 95. No further play was possible.
On the second morning, New Zealand dismissed Ganga (38) at 2 for 111 before West Indies consolidated. Late in the session, New Zealand bowled Lara (83) and ran out Chanderpaul (2) in the space of 18 runs to have the tourists 4 for 189. By lunch, West Indies had recovered to 4 for 224. During the afternoon session, West Indies took the score to 4 for 256 before rain swept in and play was abandoned for the day.
Rain and bad weather conditions prevented any play on the third, fourth and fifth days and the match was eventually abandoned as a draw.
