West Indies grab two wickets after another batting failure

After frittering their wickets away on a pitch that they had earlier criticised as having nothing for the bowlers, the West Indies managed to earn some small measure of satisfaction on day three by removing two of New Zealand's top order before the close of play. Starting the day at 19 for no loss, Chris Gayle and Kieran Powell negotiated 18 overs before Powell fell to Mark Craig, triggering the traditional West Indies collapse. Kirk Edwards and Darren Bravo failed to impress either the scorers or the New Zealand bowlers and were back in the pavilion almost as quickly as they appeared.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul joined Gayle, at which point the Jamaican, playing in his 100th test match, opened up and soon reached his 50. A century was not on the cards however, and Gayle fell in a familiar fashion on 64 to a ball that went across him and was edged to the wicketkeeper.

Marlon Samuels did not seem to think it was a particularly good day to stick around and score runs and was almost immediately out LBW with his feet planted firmly at the crease. Newly anointed captain Denesh Ramdin emerged and joined Chanderpaul, and the pair set about repairing the tattered innings. Ramdin worked well at protecting his wicket while putting away the bad balls but was undone with a slower ball from Tim Southee that drifted down the leg side. Ramdin was only able to glance it onto his leg and Watling took an easy catch to end his innings.

As the bowlers came in to bat Chanderpaul was unmoved and continued sedately, taking no risks and scoring when the opportunity presented itself. He was still there on 84 when the last wicket fell and the West Indies innings finally disintegrated at 262.

New Zealand had no interest in enforcing a follow-on, but soon found themselves two down as Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach each picked up a wicket. Ish Sodhi was sent out as the nightwatchman and saw the evening out safely to see the stumps pulled with New Zealand at 14 for 2 and 260 runs ahead.

As always, ESPNCricinfo has the scorecard.