On this day in 1995: West Indies register a crushing victory in Wellington
The month of February seems to be very lucky for West Indies when it comes to Test cricket. Just a few days ago (February 7 to be precise), they registered a miraculous win over Bangladesh when they chased down 395 after being reduced to 59 for 3. And in this very month, exactly on this day way back in 1995, West Indies had registered yet another huge win in Tests when they had inflicted a crushing innings defeat on New Zealand in Christchurch.
The Caribbean outfit had visited New Zealand for three ODIs and two Tests and saved their best for the last. The visitors swept the three-match ODI series before the first Test ended in a draw in Christchurch. The Black Caps, however, proved no match for West Indies in the second Test as the visitors crushed the hosts by an innings and 322 runs. It is still the fourth biggest win in Tests in terms of margins (by an innings) and the second biggest for West Indies in their history. Interestingly, West Indies have not won a Test since then in New Zealand.
It was not a typical New Zealand pitch that usually supports the pacers and that was why West Indies skipper Courtney Walsh decided to bat first after winning the toss. His decision proved right as the tourists posted a mammoth total of 660 for 5 declared. Jimmy Adams (151), Brian Lara (147) and Junior Murray (101*) led West Indies’ charge with the bat.
Stuart Williams and Sherwin Campbell gave West Indies a good start by sharing 85 runs for the first wicket before the middle-order batsmen capitalised on it. Campbell (88), Keith Arthurton (70) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (61*) also played crucial knocks to power their team to a huge total which eventually turned out to be a winning one. For the home side, Simon Doull and Danny Morrison picked up two wickets apiece.
With their back firmly against the wall, New Zealand needed a good show with the bat. However, they failed miserably and were all out for just 216 with Walsh wreaking havoc. The West Indies pace spearhead picked up 7 wickets while conceding only 37 runs in 20.4 overs. For New Zealand, only Darrin Murray (52) managed to cross the 50-run mark.
Asked to follow-on, New Zealand’s fortunes did not change in the second innings either as they endured yet another batting failure. Walsh was the destructor-in-chief again, picking up six wickets for just 18 runs as New Zealand were all out for a paltry 122 to suffer a heavy defeat.
