Craig Sets New Zealand Record On Debut
Jun 12, 2014, 10:26 IST
Kingston, Jamaica: Debutant offspinner Mark Craig has joined Stephen Fleming and Mathew Sinclair as the only New Zealand cricketers to be named Man of the Match on Test debut, following an eight-wicket haul to hasten the tourists' crushing win over West Indies in the first Test at Sabina Park.
Craig, 27, followed figures of 4 for 91 in West Indies' first innings with 4 for 97 Wednesday as the home side was bowled out for 216 to give New Zealand a 186-run win with two deliveries left to be bowled on day four. His match haul of 8 for 188 are the best by a New Zealander on debut, beating fellow offspinner Paul Wiseman's 7 for 143 in Colombo in 1998.
Set an improbable 403 to win, West Indies were bowled out for 216 in 47.4 overs. Offspinner Craig's wickets on Wednesday were Kirk Edwards (14), Darren Bravo (12), Marlon Samuels (0) and Kemar Roach (19). It capped a memorable introduction to Test cricket for the Otago bowler, who was drafted into the squad as a replacement for offspinner Jeetan Patel and handed a debut after taking four wickets for eight runs in New Zealand's tour match against Jamaica.
"I'm on top of the world and pretty speechless right now," said Craig. "There was a lot of turn out there. It was a lot of fun. To get the win was very special."
Victory was only New Zealand's second Test win in the Caribbean and first away from home since November 2012, when they beat Sri Lanka in Colombo.
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Craig, 27, followed figures of 4 for 91 in West Indies' first innings with 4 for 97 Wednesday as the home side was bowled out for 216 to give New Zealand a 186-run win with two deliveries left to be bowled on day four. His match haul of 8 for 188 are the best by a New Zealander on debut, beating fellow offspinner Paul Wiseman's 7 for 143 in Colombo in 1998.
Set an improbable 403 to win, West Indies were bowled out for 216 in 47.4 overs. Offspinner Craig's wickets on Wednesday were Kirk Edwards (14), Darren Bravo (12), Marlon Samuels (0) and Kemar Roach (19). It capped a memorable introduction to Test cricket for the Otago bowler, who was drafted into the squad as a replacement for offspinner Jeetan Patel and handed a debut after taking four wickets for eight runs in New Zealand's tour match against Jamaica.
"I'm on top of the world and pretty speechless right now," said Craig. "There was a lot of turn out there. It was a lot of fun. To get the win was very special."
Victory was only New Zealand's second Test win in the Caribbean and first away from home since November 2012, when they beat Sri Lanka in Colombo.
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