Shepherd (133), Reifer (65) spark turnaround for West Indies A

Guyana Jaguars pair Romario Shepherd and Raymon Reifer were outstanding for West Indies A, sparking a remarkable turnaround for the Caribbean side against New Zealand A on day one of their first unofficial four-day ‘Test’ in Mount Maunganui.

Reduced to 113-7, West Indies A were in danger of being skittled out cheaply, but the pair put together a brilliant partnership of 199 to turn the contest.

West Indies eventually made 322; by stumps, New Zealand were 10-0 with Glenn Phillips on eight and Tim Seifert on two.

FULL SCOREBOARD: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/1240785/scorecard/1240781/new-zealand-a-vs-west-indies-a-1st-unofficial-test-

Shepherd made a magnificent 133, his maiden First-Class ton, from 154 balls. His innings included 14 fours and seven sixes. Reifer was more circumspect, his 65 spanning 162 balls and including six fours.

Earlier, West Indies lost opening pair Brandon King (3) and Shayne Moseley (2) with just 13 on the board, before Nicholas Pooran and skipper Rovman Powell added 66 for the third wicket.

Powell for 27, Kyle Mayers fell soon after without scoring and Pooran, playing his first Four-day game since 2014, fell short of a fifty, getting to 46 off 74 balls with seven fours.

Joshua DaSilva and Fabian Allen were the other batsmen dismissed for two and 19 respectively, before Shepherd and Reifer joined forces.

Bowling for New Zealand A, Jacob Duffy picked up 4-47, Nathan Smith 3-37 and Doug Bracewell 2-62.