ST GEORGE’S (Grenada), July 2: Scott Styris and Robbie Hart shored up New Zealand’s second innings with a 40-run stand after the loss of early wickets had put them in trouble on the fifth day of the second Test against the West Indies Tuesday.

Styris, unbeaten on 22, and Hart, 20 not out, nudged New Zealand to 197 for five at lunch, giving the tourists a 100-run lead ahead of the West Indies second innings.

The game is finely poised as the West Indies must win to level the two-match series.

Earlier, the West Indies spinners claimed three wickets to put New Zealand in trouble at 157 for seven halfway through the first session.

Leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo and off-spinner Carl Hooper threw a straitjacket around batsmen Mark Richardson and Chris Harris, looking to press home the advantage with the old ball.

Richardson had a lucky escape when wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs fumbled a low catch from a Nagamootoo delivery that took an inside edge.

Neither batsman was looking for run-making strokes and seemed intent on securing the draw that would give the tourists a series win.

But West Indies skipper Hooper made the breakthrough when Richardson’s attempt at clipping the ball through fine leg gave an edge for Jacobs to rectify his earlier mistake.

The left-hander made 71 to add to the 95 he scored in the first innings.

Nagamootoo got the break he deserved when Nathan Astle, yet to score, edged to short leg.

Chris Harris (17) went the same way. His attempt to sweep a Nagamootoo delivery ballooned up for Sarwan.

Styris took a more positive approach against the spin, but was somewhat lucky to survive an lbw appeal from Nagamootoo.

Craig McMillan has moved down the order from his normal number six spot after cutting a finger on Sunday.

On Monday, New Zealand seemed to be edging toward a series-winning draw but lost Lou Vincent and skipper Stephen Fleming in a late burst of wicket-taking.

New Zealand were on 139 for two at the end of play, and leading by 42 runs ahead of the West Indies’ final reply. Vincent forged a 117 partnership with opening batsman Mark Richardson in an afternoon of defence-minded cricket.

A West Indies breakthrough came from an unlikely quarter when West Indies skipper Carl Hooper introduced a second leg-spinner with nine overs of play remaining.

Ramnaresh Sarwan promptly beat Vincent’s hesitant defensive shot to topple his off stump with the third ball of his first over.

Sarwan proved that there was more movement left on the Queen’s Park wicket than had seemed apparent from the spin-bowling of Mahendra Nagamootoo. Hooper took heart and reintroduced himself as an off-spinner.

He quickly collected the wicket of Stephen Fleming, caught at slip by Brian Lara, with just five runs to his name.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND (1st innings) 373 (S.Styris 107, M.Richardson 95, N.Astle 69; P.Collins 4-68)