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 and final Test in Hamilton on Monday.

The West Indies, set a world-record target of 444 to win, were in trouble at 30 for two by stumps with two full days of play remaining at Seddon Park.

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 for eight, 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.

The 33-year-old, who offered two chances in an otherwise majestic innings, reached the milestone driving Raymon Reifer to the boundary for only the 11th four in his 198 ball innings.

Williamson was earlier out for 54 as he looked to lead New Zealand to a series sweep following the innings victory in the first Test.

The current record for a victorious fourth innings chase is 418, achieved 14 years ago when the West Indies reached the target against Australia for the loss of seven wickets.

Taylor did give chances in a near majestic innings, with a top edge from Miguel Cummins flying just out of reach of wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich and on 35 he was dropped in the gully by Shai Hope off Shannon Gabriel.

New Zealand were 263 for eight when Taylor brought up his hundred and with tailender Tim Southee (22 not out) plundering more boundaries they added a further 28 runs before declaring.

The West Indies first innings folded quickly on the third morning with Trent Boult taking the last two wickets to fall in successive balls.

But he missed out on a hat-trick when the West Indies batted again — needing a wicket first ball he removed Powell on his third delivery.

As New Zealand built on their lead, the West Indies continued to fight with Miguel Cummins reviving memories of a time when the calypso cricketers had seriously venomous bowlers.

He zipped the ball around the ears of the New Zealand batsmen in a short-pitched salvo mixed with full-length deliveries to have three for 69.

His scalps included Williamson for 54 when the New Zealand skipper could not get his bat down fast enough on a yorker the ripped out the middle stump.

It was Cummins first ball after lunch and followed his first ball caught and bowled dismissal of Jeet Raval for four in the morning session.

He returned to the short delivery to send off the inconsistent Henry Nicholls for five when an attempt to fend the ball away was taken by Dowrich.

Mitchell Santner had a life when an edge off Cummins burst through Dowrich’s hands to the boundary, and he was hit on the helmet when he ducked into a ball that did not bounce as expected.

But when the short-pitched salvo ended it was spinner Roston Chase who accounted for Santner, caught at long-on for 26.

New Zealand were 190 for five at tea and declared three wickets later to have 40 minutes bowling at the West Indies before stumps.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings) 373 (J.A. Raval 84, C. de Grandhomme 58, K.S. Williamson 43; S.T. Gabriel 4-119, K.A.J. Roach 3-58).

WEST INDIES (1st Innings, overnight 215-8):

K.C. Brathwaite c Southee b de G’homme 66

K.O.A. Powell c Blundell b Southee 0

S.O. Hetmyer c and b Boult 28

S.D. Hope c Taylor b Southee 15

R.L. Chase b de G’homme 12

S.W. Ambris hit wicket b Boult 2

S.O. Dowrich c and b Wagner 35

R.A. Reifer not out 23

K.A.J. Roach c Boult b Wagner 17

M.L. Cummins b Boult 15

S.T. Gabriel b Boult 0

EXTRAS (B-1, W-7) 8

TOTAL (all out, 66.5 overs) 221

FALL OF WKTS: 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.A. Raval c and b Cummins 4

T.W.M. Latham lbw b Reifer 22

K.S. Williamson b Cummins 54

L.R.P.L. Taylor not out 107

H.M. Nicholls c Dowrich b Cummins 5

M.J. Santner c Ambris b Chase 26

C. de Grandhomme lbw Gabriel 22

T.A. Blundell c Powell b Gabriel 1

N. Wagner c Hope b Chase 8

T.G. Southee not out 22

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-2, W-2, NB-12) 20

TOTAL (for eight wkts decl, 77.4 overs) 291

FALL OF WKTS: 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 (2nb, 1w); Reifer 13-1-52-1 (1nb, 1w); Brathwaite 9-0-33-0; Chase 17.4-1-51-2.

WEST INDIES (2nd Innings):

K.C. Brathwaite not out 13

K.O.A. Powell c Southee b Boult 0

S.O. Hetmyer c Wagner b Southee 15

S.D. Hope not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-1) 1

TOTAL (for two wkts, 8 overs) 30

FALL OF WKTS: 1-4, 2-27.

BOWLING (to-date): Southee 4-0-18-1; Boult 4-0-11-1.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2017