Conway hits 227 as NZ declare at 575-8 in Windies Test

Agency :

Opener Devon Conway’s epic 227 Friday led New Zealand to declare their first innings at 575-8 during the final session of day two of the third Test against the West Indies at Mount Maunganui.
A late flurry of hitting from Rachin Ravindra, who made 75, and recalled spinner Ajaz Patel, who lofted two sixes in the final over before ending on 30 from 30 balls, saw New Zealand through to a daunting total.

Three West Indian bowlers took two wickets each, Justin Greaves the pick with 2-83 from 29 overs, while Jayden Seales had 2-100 and Anderson Phillip 2-154.
The declaration left New Zealand’s attack with 23 overs to bowl at the West Indies top order before the close in fading light.

Seamer Kemar Roach was also a doubt to bat due to a pulled hamstring.
The battered West Indian bowling corps did show some fight after lunch, led by a sharp and accurate spell from Seales.

He trapped Conway lbw to make it 432-4 and the West Indies removed two more batsmen as New Zealand went to tea at 508-6.

Glenn Phillips lost his battle with Phillip after tea, edging to first slip, and Zak Foulkes was bowled by a peach of a ball clipping the top of off stump.

New Zealand had resumed after lunch at 424-3 at lunch, looking to punish an under-strength West Indian attack missing Roach.

The tourists did not help themselves in the field. Kavem Hodge dropped Conway when he was on 206, and Daryl Mitchell was shelled by Greaves at second slip when he was on nine.

Seales was first to strike in the afternoon, darting one past the inside edge of Conway and into the pads, a ball that would have clattered into middle and leg stumps.
Conway’s three runs after lunch saw him go past the top score of his batting idol, Neil McKenzie, who made 226 for South Africa against Bangladesh in 2008.
Mitchell fell for 11, getting a thick edge down the legside from Roston Chase which was expertly taken by wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach.
Tom Blundell gave Seales his second wicket, when an attempted cut was edged to Imlach.
Earlier, Conway powered to a second Test double century after he resumed the day on 178, with New Zealand 334-1.
He was quickly back in the groove as he drove his first ball of the day to the cover boundary for four.
He then knuckled down as the West Indian bowlers found good movement off a bouncy surface.
Jacob Duffy, who came in as a nightwatchman on Thursday evening in fading light, fell for 17, edging Jayden Seales to wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach.
Conway then brought up his second Test double-century-his first since making 200 on debut in 2021 against England at Lord’s-cutting a Seales short ball to the point boundary.
His 200 came off 316 balls, with 28 fours, but he was dropped soon after reaching the milestone.
Greaves, who struck to remove Williamson just before lunch for 31, caught by Imlach.