KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Typically stoic batting from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and a career-best knock from Kemar Roach allowed West Indies to formalise a five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second Test here yesterday.
Chanderpaul was not out on 43 and Roach, later named Man-of-the-Series, made 41, as West Indies successfully completed their chase of 206 for victory on the fourth day.
Chanderpaul and Roach put on 70 for the fifth wicket to keep the West Indies firmly on track for the victory.
Chanderpaul struck just one boundary from 101 balls in 148 minutes and Roach hit four fours from 60 balls in 80 balls.
Veteran left-hander Chanderpaul formalised the victory about 40 minutes before lunch, when he chopped a delivery from part-time off-spinner Kane Williamson to third man for a single.
The result gave West Indies a 2-0 series victory, following a nine-wicket victory in the first Test, which ended last Monday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.
It was their first series sweep, since Ridley Jacobs’ side beat Bangladesh 2-0 close to a decade ago, and helped West Indies to move ahead of the Black Caps in the ICC World Test Rankings to No.7.
“It’s been a hard year for us, but it feels good to win this series,” said West Indies captain Darren Sammy. “The way we have gone about playing New Zealand, it’s just been a professional effort from everybody.
“I think the guys are now more aware of what’s required to win. We are giving more thought to the way we go out and play, and to the team plans.
Sammy added: “We also have a number of guys who have been working hard throughout the year and they have been reaping the rewards for their hard work.
“I think New Zealand were tough opponents. In all the games throughout the tour, they had their chances, but we were able to capitalise on the key moments better than them.”
Roach and Chanderpaul comfortably batted through all but five minutes of the first hour, after West Indies resumed from their overnight total of 135 for four.
Fast bowler Roach treated the small crowd at Sabina Park to a few attractive strokes, including an imperious straight drive and a flambuoyant cover drive in Tim Southee’s 12th over.
He also slapped Neil Wagner square for his third boundary, bringing up the 50-run partnership with Chanderpaul before he looked to drive Williamson over cover, got a thick outside edge, and was caught at backward point.
“I’ve not been working on my batting in the nets as much as I should,” said Roach. “But I just back myself.
“I went to sleep the night before telling myself that I was going to back myself, be positive and give it my best shot.”
He said: “I thought if I could get 20 to 30 runs, it would take the pressure off the other batsmen. It came off and we won.”
The West Indies fast bowler finished the series with 12 wickets, earning the Man-of-the-Series award. He is now tied with Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal with 39 wickets (at 22.25 apiece) as the leading bowler in Tests for the calendar year so far and was delighted to earn the series accolade.
“To be honest, it’s been quite tough, but there is a job to be done for West Indies, and I am one of the leading bowlers and have to lead from the front,” he said.
“The flat pitches in the Caribbean make it quite easy for the batsmen to score, so there is a lot more thinking that has to go into your bowling
. You are called upon to assess the situations much quicker and much better, and bowl accordingly. As a fast bowler, I would prefer pitches with a lot more bounce, but you have to put in the work to reap the rewards.
“We are now winning some games and the spirit in the dressing room has been fantastic and some of our top players have returned, so hopefully we can move forward from here, and win some more series.”
Marlon Samuels was named Man-of-the-Match, following his fourth Test hundred of 123 and 52 in the second innings that put West Indies on course.

NEW ZEALAND 1st Innings 260
(M. Guptill 71; K. Roach 4-70)
WEST INDIES 1st Innings 209
(M. Samuels 123; D. Bracewell 3-46, T. Boult 3-58)
NEW ZEALAND 2nd Innings 154
(M. Guptill 42; N. Deonarine 4-37)
WEST INDIES 2nd Innings (target: 206)
(overnight 135 for four)
C. Gayle lbw b Boult 8
K. Powell lbw b Southee 6
A. Fudadin b Wagner 27
M. Samuels c *Taylor b Bracewell 52
S. Chanderpaul not out 43
K. Roach c Southee b Williamson 41
N. Deonarine not out 15
Extras (b4, lb2, w8) 14
TOTAL (5 wkts, 63.2 overs) 206
Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Gayle), 2-20 (Powell), 3-94 (Fudadin), 4-113 (Samuels), 5-183 (Roach)
Bowling: Boult 12-1-46-1 (w1); Bracewell 13-0-38-1 (w5); Southee 14-4-30-1; Wagner 12-3-41-1; Williamson 7.2-1-18-1 (w1); Guptill 4-0-21-0; Brownlie 1-0-6-0 (w1)