Windies lose initiative

Kane Wiliamson and Brendon McCullum lifted New Zealand to 123 for three, a lead of 99, at stumps on the third day of the third and final Test aagainst West Indies at Kensington Oval.

Early strikes by the West Indies bowlers put the tourists under pressure in their second innings but an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 55 between Wiliamson and McCullum steadied the ship on Saturday.

Trailing by 24 runs after the West Indies were dismissed for 317 in their first innings, the Black Caps’ top order wobbled against the threat posed by two home-grown fast bowlers.

NEW ZEALAND (I Innings): 293 WEST INDIES (I Innings; O/n: 169/2):Gayle c Rutherford b Craig 42Brathwaite c Southee b Wagner 68Edwards c Rutherford b Southee 58Bravo c Williamson b Wagner 24Chanderpaul c Watling b Wagner 15Ramdin lbw Boult 45Holder c Watling b Neesham 38Roach c Watling b Boult 0Shillingford (not out) 10Benn b Wagner 1Taylor b Neesham 1Extras (B-2, LB-4, W-7, NB-2) 15Total (all out in 97.1 overs) 317Fall of wickets: 1-79, 2-153, 3-197, 4-205, 5-240, 6-277, 7-277, 8-313, 9-316.Bowling: Boult 23-5-71-2, Southee 21-8-63-1, Craig 18-2-90-1, Wagner 27-7-64-4, Williamson 2-0-11-0, Neesham 6.1-1-12-2.NEW ZEALAND (II Innings):Latham c Shillingford b Roach 0Rutherford c Ramdin b Roach 19Williamson (batting) 58Taylor c Bravo b Holder 6B McCullum (batting) 23Extras (B-12, W-5) 17Total (for 3 wkts, 34 overs) 123Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-56, 3-68.Bowling: Taylor 6-3-17-0, Roach 7-0-30-2, Benn 13-0-44-0, Holder 5-2-9-1, Shillingford 3-2-11-0.