Early separation of Windies’ opening pair crucial to success: Trent Boult – Cricket News Update
Having claimed the crucial wicket which saw the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Trent-Boult-c2708 expressed his satisfaction at the early separation of the pair.
“... they can take the game away from you,” Boult said in reference to the Windies’ openers – http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kieran-Omar-Akeem-Powell-c71441. “They did that in the last Test but it was very nice to get those two because they could have been a handful.
“The boys worked together and we came from both ends ... we were lucky to get them.”
The host team’s opening duo proved instrumental during their 9-wicket win in the first Test in Antigua – their first innings saw Gayle (150) and Powell (134) establishing an impressive 254-run opening stand, which ended only in the 76th over with the dismissal of the elder batsman.
However, the second and final Test, currently being played at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, saw the Kiwi bowling attack bringing the opening stand to an end by the 9th over, cutting the partnership off at 11 runs.
Boult proved crucial to his team’s success, dismissing Powell (10) who was caught by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Neil-Wagner-c79182.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TG-Southee-c2659, triggered a batting collapse which saw the opposing side ending the second day, all out at 209, with the Black Caps firmly in possession of a 110-run lead. Boult (3/58) and Bracewell (3/46) spearheaded the attack, while Southee (2/70) and Wagner (2/24) chipped in with vital contributions.
Reflecting particularly on the innings of Gayle, who has proven to be the danger man for the Kiwis throughout their tour of the Caribbean, Boult claimed that the early fall of wickets appeared to have made Gayle cautious, allowing the visitors to effectively implement their plans for his dismissal.
“Just the loss of wickets affected him a little bit. He didn't take much of the strike,” Boult observed in reference to Gayle who only managed to contribute 8 runs off the 55 deliveries he faced. “The plan was to use the shorter ball and get him caught in the crease and then look to hit the wicket around the fourth stump area, and the plan worked.”
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