Pooran takes a wicket, but Phillips (136) and Seifert (111) make WI A toil

Openers Glenn Phillips and Tim Seifert made West Indies A bowlers toil in the field all day, taking New Zealand A to within a run on the tourists’ 322 by stumps on day two of their first unofficial ‘Test’ at Mount Maunganui.

New Zealand A, resuming on 10-0, finished the day on 321-3, thanks largely to Phillips and Seifert, who each made their sixth First-Class ton in a magnificent opening partnership of 226.

Phillips was the first to be dismissed, offering a return catch to leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr., for 136, an innings that spanned 184 balls and included 15 fours and five sixes.

Seifert was more sedate, his 111 taking 241 balls and including just eight fours. He went leg-before to left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer.

Oddly, West Indies A got their third wicket of the day off the bowling of wicketkeeper/batsman Nicholas Pooran, who removed Mark Chapman for 45 in his lone over. It was the first time Pooran was bowling in any form of recognised domestic cricket.

Joe Carter (8*) and Cole McConchie (7*) were the not out batsmen at stumps.

West Indies A recovered from 113-7 on the first day to post 322, mainly through a maiden First-Class hundred from Romario Shepherd (133) and 65 from Reifer.