NZ clinch big win despite Blackwood's ton in 1st Test against WI

Hamilton: New Zealand registered a comprehensive win by an innings and 134 runs in the first Test against West Indies at the Seddon Park on Sunday.

On Day Four of the Test match, Jermaine Blackwood scored his second Test century and Alzarri Joseph, a breakthrough career-best score but their heroics couldn't avoid the inevitable as pacers Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner ripped through West Indies' lower order to wrap up the victory for the Black Caps.

Starting the day at 196/6, 185 runs behind New Zealand's first innings score of 519/7, the visitors eventually fell for 247 in the second innings after being forced to follow-on as Jamieson and Wagner picked up the last three wickets in the space of 10 balls to hand New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Blackwood and Joseph, who had counter-attacked on the third evening on Saturday, continued bravely on Sunday morning and added a record partnership of 155 for the eighth wicket.

Blackwood scored 104 runs in his 141-ball knock with the 11 fours and two sixes. He was the eighth wicket to fall. Joseph contributed with 86 off 125 balls, which included three sixes and nine fours.

The Man-of-the-Match award went to New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, who made a career-best 251 in his innings that lasted 10 and a half hours and helped the hosts set a massive first innings score of 519-7 declared.

Brief scores: West Indies 138 and 247 all out (Jermaine Blackwood 104, Alzarri Joseph 86; Neil Wagner 4/66); New Zealand 519/7 declared