Hamilton: After veteran batsman Ross Taylor”>Ross Taylor equaled the record for the most hundreds by a New Zealand batsman, the hosts’ bowlers reduced West Indies to 30-2 at stumps on Day Three of the second Test at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on Monday.
Chasing a world record target off 444 runs, West Indies had the worst start to their second innings, losing openers Kieran Powell and first drop Shimron Hetmyer cheaply for a duck and 15, respectively.
At stumps, Kraigg Brathwaite (unbeaten at 13) and Shai Hope (unbeaten at one) were batting at the crease.
Tim Southee and Trent Boult chipped in with a wicket each to put New Zealand on brink of victory and wrapping the two-match series by 2-0 with a day to spare.
Resuming at yesterday’s score of 219 for eight, the Black Caps declared their second innings at 291-8, thus leaving the West Indies with a monumental target to achieve.
Taylor was the star batsman for New Zealand as he smashed an unbeaten knock of 107, including 11 boundaries, to join his mentor, the late Martin Crowe, and current captain Kane Williamson with 17 Test tons.
He was on 96 when he drove Raymon Reifer to the boundary to reach the landmark ton in New Zealand’s second innings.
He, however, took 83 Tests to get to his 17th century in contrast to Crowe’s 77 and Williamson’s 61.
Williamson also contributed significant 54 runs while Southee remained unbeaten at 22.
Earlier, West Indies were bundled out for 221 in reply to New Zealand’d first innings total of 373.
The current record for a victorious fourth-innings chase is 418. The West Indies achieved the feat 14 years ago when they reached the target against Australia for the loss of seven wickets.
ANI