BRIDGETOWN, Barbados : Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn took 5-93 and pacer Kemar Roach added 4-61 as the West Indies bowled out New Zealand for 293 on the opening day of the third cricket test at Kensington Oval.
The home team replied positively to reach 32 without loss by the close.Chris Gayle was unbeaten on 18 while Kraigg Brathwaite was 11 not out. New Zealand's total was based around allrounder Jimmy Neesham's counterattacking top score of 78 off 91 balls. The left-hander hit 10 fours and a six.
Mark Craig added an important, unbeaten 46 that propped up the lower order, which compiled 121 for the last four wickets. Earlier, Ross Taylor scored 45, Kane Williamson hit 43, and captain Brendon McCullum added 31.
The West Indies began well and had New Zealand wobbling soon after McCullum won the toss for the third successive time in the series.
Barbadian Roach, who celebrates his 26th birthday on Monday, claimed Hamish Rutherford (4) in the fourth over as the left-hander lofted a low catch to mid-on.
Fellow left-hander Tom Latham successfully reviewed against umpire Richard Illingworth's lbw decision for Roach but fell in the same manner an over later, an inswinger trapping him plumb in front for 14 at 28-2.
Williamson and Taylor revived the innings with some authentic strokeplay around the ground, which is celebrating its 50th test. The pair took New Zealand safely to lunch at 95-2 with a third-wicket stand of 74 that shifted the momentum. Benn, however, made the telling breakthrough just after lunch in a second session dominated by the hosts.
Williamson hit seven fours off 68 balls before he diverted to first slip at 102-3.Roach scalped Taylor soon afterwards, Benn hauling in a magnificent one-handed catch diving away to his right at gully at 114-4.Neesham and McCullum shared an enterprising fifth-wicket stand of 54 before Benn grabbed three quick wickets to put the hosts in control.
McCullum top-edged an awkward pull that skied to first slip while BJ Watling edged to the same position on 1, and Tim Southee was bowled for 6 by a faster ball as New Zealand slipped to 194-7. Neesham brought up his 50 just before tea as he and Craig revived the innings again in an eighth-wicket partnership worth 64.
A mix-up between the two eventually ended their association. Neesham was run out at the bowler's end after hesitation on a single into the off side. Roach quickly removed Neil Wagner as he tickled down the leg side, and after a few lusty blows from Trent Boult (14), Benn claimed him for his fifth from a swift stumping by Denesh Ramdin to end the innings.
Craig, who survived two difficult return catches to Benn on 4 and 11, hit four fours and a six in just short of two hours. The West Indies safely negotiated 35 minutes to the close with Gayle and Brathwaite having few alarms.
