Astle takes positive approach to survival

Cricket West Indies 548-7 dec New Zealand 346-7

Nathan Astle once again led New Zealand's spirited fight on the third day of the second Test with his second hundred in succession.

With the same forthright method that brought him his 125 in the second innings in a vain attempt to save the first Test a week ago, Astle passed his hundred 50 minutes after tea. He was out for 103 an hour into the final session, falling to Curtly Ambrose and the second new ball, leaving New Zealand 281 for 7, still 67 short of the follow-on. By the close, the New Zealand captain, Lee Germon, and Dipak Patel had brought follow- on shortfall down to only three.

In Barbados, 100 of Astle's 125 were in boundaries and he again put the ball away effectively, hitting a six and 12 fours during the three and three-quarter hours he was at the wicket.

Taking advantage of the ideal pitch and crystal clear light, he faltered only a few times on the way to his landmark, the worst coming when he was on 65. His attempt to hoist the leg-spinner Rajindra Dhanraj over mid-on spiralled to mid-off and Roland Holder, briefly on as substitute, let the simplest of catches slip through his grasp.

It was the new ball, in the hands of the dangerous Ambrose, that made decisive breaks. Astle had added 74 with the left-handed Chris Harris when both fell in successive overs to the Antiguan. Harris prodded a catch to short leg and Astle edged the ball to third slip. However, Germon and Patel dug in to play out the last 70 minutes of the day.

New Zealand, resuming at 21 for 2, were given a rousing start by Craig Spearman and the tall left-hander Stephen Fleming. They batted through the first hour and a half before they fell within 10 runs of each other.

Those setbacks just before lunch required consolidation for New Zealand, and with their contrasting methods, it was provided by Astle and the defensive left-hander Justin Vaughan in a stand of 94. When Vaughan was bowled by Dhanraj's googly just before tea, another left-hander, Harris, came in to further New Zealand's cause.

(New Zealand won toss)

WEST INDIES - First innings 548-7 dec (J Adams 208 no, R Samuels 125)

NEW ZEALAND - First innings

Overnight: 21 for 2

C M Spearman c Browne b Walsh 54

R G Twose b Ambrose 2

D K Morrison lbw b Ambrose 0

S P Fleming c Browne b Bishop 39

N J Astle c Simmons b Ambrose 103

J T C Vaughan b Dhanraj 26

C Z Harris c Adams b Ambrose 40

*L K Germon not out 25

D N Patel not out 37

Extras (lb4 nb16) 20

Total (for 7) 346

Fall: 1-9 2-9 3-98 4-108 5-202 6-276 7-281

To bat: G R Larsen, R J Kennedy

Bowling: Ambrose 24-8-58-4 (nb2); Walsh 21-5-57-1 (nb7); Dhanraj 29-7- 108-1; Bishop 14-2-62-1 (nb6); Adams 14-1-57-0 (nb1).

Umpires: L Barker (Barbados) and C Mitchley (SA).