Half-centuries from veteran left-handers Shiv Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle did little to revive West Indies from their struggles and New Zealand look heavy favourites to win the opening Test at Sabina Park.
Chanderpaul stroked an attractive unbeaten 84 and Gayle, 64, in his 100th Test but the Caribbean side were repeatedly hurt by bursts from seamer Tim Southee and debutant off-spinner Mark Craigg, and collapsed to 262 all out.
Southee, the persistent right-armer, was brilliant with four for 19 while Craig found traction from the flat surface to finish with four for 91.
With a lead of 246, New Zealand made heavy weather of their second innings, stumbling to 14 for two at the close – a lead of 260 heading into Wednesday’s penultimate day.
They were undone by key strikes from fast bowler Jerome Taylor who claimed Peter Fulton without scoring to a catch by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin diving in front first slip, and new ball partner Kemar Roach, who prised out Kane Williamson for two, bowled offering no shot for the second time in the match.
Resuming the day on 19 without loss in response to New Zealand’s massive 508 for seven declared, West Indies openers Gayle and Kieran Powell did well to weather a testing first hour against Southee and left-arm seamer Trent Boult.
Gayle and fellow left-hander Powell seemed to be laying the foundation for a respectable response, when they put on 60 for the first wicket.
However, the introduction of Craig changed the tone of the morning session as he removed Powell for 28 and Kirk Edwards without scoring, in his fifth over of the day, before leg-spinner Ish Sodhi accounted for Darren Bravo in the next over, also without scoring.
