Hamilton: A record-equalling 17th century by Ross Taylor had New Zealand closing in on a series sweep against the West Indies after Day Three of the second Test in Hamilton on Monday.
The West Indies, set a world-record target of 444 to win, were in trouble at 30/2 by stumps with two full days of play remaining.
It was New Zealand’s day as they shut down the West Indies for 221 to lead by 152 on the first innings.
New Zealand declared their second innings at 291/8, with Taylor 107 not out, and then took two top-order wickets by stumps.
Taylor joined the late Martin Crowe and current captain Kane Williamson on 17 Test centuries.
Scorecard
New Zealand (1st innings): 373
West Indies (1st innings): K. Brathwaite c Southee b de Grandhomme 66, K. Powell c Blundell b Southee 0, S. Hetmyer c&b Boult 28, S. Hope c Taylor b Southee 15, R. Chase b de Grandhomme 12, S. Ambris hit wicket b Boult 2, S. Dowrich c&b Wagner 35, R. Reifer (not out) 23, K. Roach c Boult b Wagner 17, M. Cummins b Boult 15, S. Gabriel b Boult 0. Extras: (b1, w7, nb0) 8. Total: (in 66.5 overs) 221.
FoW: 1-5, 2-46, 3-90, 4-112, 5-117, 6-135, 7-169, 8-204, 9-221.
Bowling: Southee 19-9-34-2 (1w), Boult 20.5-5-73-4 (2w), de Grandhomme 12-1-40-2, Wagner 15-2-73-2.
New Zealand (2nd innings): J. Raval c&b Cummins 4, T. Latham lbw Reifer 22, K. Williamson b Cummins 54, R. Taylor (not out) 107, H. Nicholls c Dowrich b Cummins 5, M. Santner c Ambris b Chase 26, C. de Grandhomme lbw Gabriel 22, T. Blundell c Powell b Gabriel 1, N. Wagner c Hope b Chase 8, T. Southee (not out) 22. Extras (b4, lb2, wd2, nb12) 20. Total: (for 8 wkts decl., in 77.4 overs) 291.
FoW: 1-11, 2-42, 3-100, 4-111, 5-161, 6-212, 7-235, 8-257.
Bowling: Gabriel 15-0-52-2 (8nb), Roach 6-1-28-0 (1nb), Cummins 17-1-69-3 (1nb, 1w), Reifer 13-1-52-1 (1nb, 1w), Brathwaite 9-0-33-0, Chase 17.4-1-51-2.
West Indies (2nd innings): K. Brathwaite (batting) 13, K. Powell c Southee b Boult 0, S. Hetmyer c Wagner b Southee 15, S. Hope (batting) 1. Extras: (lb1) 1. Total: (for 2 wkts, in 8 overs) 30.
FoW: 1-4, 2-27.
Bowling: Southee 4-0-18-1, Boult 4-0-11-1.
