The West Indies are 99-2 at lunch on the 1st day of the 2nd test against New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A quick double strike by Blair Tickner allowed New Zealand to slow the West Indies' comfortable progress toward lunch Wednesday on the first day of the second cricket test.

The West Indies reached 66-0 after being sent in when Tickner dismissed Brandon King and Kavem Hodge in the space of two overs.

The teams played to a draw in the series opener at Christchurch.

Until the intervention of Tickner, who bowled second change, New Zealand's decision to bowl on winning the toss had begun to look unwise as King and John Campbell produced the West Indies' highest opening partnership in 21 innings.

At lunch the tourists were 92-2 with John Campbell 44 not out and Shai Hope 8.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham's decision to bowl on winning the toss was understandable but possibly not well considered. The pitch at the Basin Reserve presented bright green and an opening batter such as Latham would naturally hesitate to bat first.

But the average score in tests of teams which recently have chosen to bat first at the Wellington stadium is around 340 and four of the last five tests at the ground have been won by the team batting first.

The New Zealand pace attack is severely depleted by the recent injuries to Matt Henry and Nathan Smith and the continuing unavailability of Will O'Rourke, Ben Sears and Kyle Jamieson.

New Zealand's attack in this match comprises Will O'Rourke and Zak Foulkes, both playing their third test, Michael Rae on debut and Tickner in just his fourth test.

Duffy and Foulkes shared the new ball, though Duffy bowled 43 and Foulkes bowled 33 overs in the second innings of the drawn first test which ended only three days ago.

The pitch proved much more docile than it appeared with no real pace or sharp bounce and anything short was punished. When the ball found the edge of the bat, it tended to die before reaching the slips. King's superb off-drive for four off Duffy showed the fate of any half volley and he hit a six and a four from the Rae's first over in test cricket.

Tickner dismissed both King (33) and Hodge (0) with balls which were short of a good length but were not clearing the stumps.

Campbell made 1 and 15 in the first test but looked in good touch Wednesday, hitting six boundaries.

Hope made a half century in the first innings and a century in the second innings of the first test while suffering from an eye infection but has fully recovered.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

New Zealand fielders Blair Tickner, left, and Glenn Phillips are unable to field a ball while playing the West Indies on Day 5 of their cricket test match in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand fielders Blair Tickner, right, and Glenn Phillips are unable to field a ball while playing the West Indies on Day 5 of their cricket test match in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Chris Symes/Photosport via AP)

West Indies' Shai Hope celebrates scoring 100 runs against New Zealand on Day 4 of their cricket test match in Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Chris Symes/Photosport via AP)

West Indies' John Campbell bats against New Zealand on Day 4 of their cricket test match in Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

West Indies' Justin Greaves raises his bat after scoring 200 runs against New Zealand on Day 5 of their cricket test match in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Eric Robinson ended a 10-game stretch without a goal by breaking a third-period tie and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 on Tuesday night.

Seth Jarvis, Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook had Carolina’s other goals and Andrei Svechnikov supplied two assists. Brandon Bussi made 23 saves to improve his record to 9-1-0 for the Hurricanes, who wrapped up a 4-3-0 homestand. Bussi is the only Carolina goalie to win a game since Nov. 17.

Dmitri Voronkov scored on a first-period power play for the Blue Jackets, who’ve lost back-to-back games in regulation for the first time in more than a month. Jet Greaves stopped 27 shots, but Columbus has been outscored 45-28 in the third periods of games this season.

Voronkov scored with 7:21 remaining in the opening period on just the second Columbus shot of the game.

Jarvis responded at 9:42 of the second period for his team-leading 17th goal. It was his sixth goal during the homestand.

Robinson took a pass from Taylor Hall and delivered his first goal since Nov. 15, coming against one of his former teams. Staal tacked on a power-play goal with 6:22 left. Martinook’s goal with 1:15 to play was an empty-net, short-handed tally.

The Hurricanes celebrated the 20th anniversary season of the franchise’s only Stanley Cup championship with an on-ice pregame ceremony that included Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour, who was captain of the title team.

Blue Jackets: Host Ottawa on Thursday to begin a four-game homestand.

Hurricanes: Visit Washington on Thursday night.

This story has been updated to correct the losing team to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first paragraph. A previous version stated it was the Buffalo Sabres.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski (8) watches his shot bounce off Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) while being guarded by Carolina Hurricanes' Joel Nystrom (64) and Jackson Blake (53) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Nikolaj Ehlers (27) controls the puck in front of Columbus Blue Jackets' Damon Severson (78) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) joins the celebration on an empty net goal by Jordan Martinook (48) with Sean Walker (26) and K'Andre Miller (19) nearby during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate a goal by Jordan Staal (11) as Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) skates back to the net during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)