Blackcaps captain Kane Williamson has warned West Indies that the hosts will only get better, after completing a comprehensive innings-and-134-run victory in the first test in Hamilton.
Despite being asked to bat on a green pitch at Seddon Park, New Zealand were in control of the game from midway through the first day, as Williamson and Tom Latham laid the foundation for their massive 519/7 declared.
The bowlers then took over on day three, almost running through the West Indies line-up twice on Saturday, before completing victory before lunch on the fourth day.
"It was nice, after such a long break, to put in a strong performance," Williamson says, after his team had not played a test since March, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"A really good collective effort, but something to build on. It's important we take some lessons from this into the next one and the big thing for us is to keep improving as a group."
While Williamson's career-best 251 in New Zealand's innings earned him the man-of-the-match award, the way his bowlers hunted as a pack to put the visitors under constant pressure was the defining characteristic of the match.
Williamson says the rearguard second-innings fightback by Jermaine Blackwood and Alzarri Joseph, which forced the game into Sunday, did not deter the bowlers, despite some frustration at several dropped catches.
"Full credit to the bowling attack," Williamson says. "Sometimes, when you hit your areas and the ball is moving around, and you're taking the edge, then you sort of get a little bit ahead of yourself.
"It was a great lesson for us to try and get back to being patient, and knowing you will get opportunities, if you stay in your areas.
"It was great the guys stuck with it."
Reuters
