KINGSTON: Opener Tom Latham hit his second half century of the match as New Zealand resisted an early Jerome Taylor burst to stretch its lead over the West Indies to 342 at lunch on day four of the opening cricket test on Wednesday.
The tourists, resuming on 14-2, went to the break on 96-5 in their second innings at Sabina Park. Latham followed his first-innings 83 with an unbeaten 51, spiced with six fours in three hours.
Latham shared an important sixth-wicket stand of 41 unbroken with fellow left-hander Jimmy Neesham, who was unbeaten on 14.
Fast bowler Jerome Taylor was the best of the hosts' bowlers with 3-13.
Taylor, who removed Peter Fulton late on day three, added the scalps of nightwatchman Ish Sodhi and Ross Taylor in successive balls as the Kiwis dipped to 14-4.
Sodhi was leg before wicket to an outswinger while Taylor fell in the same manner to an inswinger.
Captain Brendon McCullum survived the hat-trick ball and revived the innings in a stand of 41 with Latham.
McCullum scored 17 before he was bowled through the gate by a big-spinning off break from Shane Shillingford as the hosts mounted a fightback at 55-5.
But Latham dropped anchor and found an able ally in Neesham to keep New Zealand in the ascendancy.
Latham survived a close lbw shout off Sulieman Benn on 25 but reached his half century just before the interval.
