WELLINGTON – Sloppy fielding by West Indies allowed Ross Taylor to capitalize as the in-form New Zealand batsman scored a century to steer his side out of danger against West Indies on the first day of the second test at Basin Reserve yesterday.
Taylor, who was dropped before getting off the mark, scored a purposeful 129 as New Zealand recovered from 24 for two after openers Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford were removed cheaply in the first hour.
West Indies had New Zealand against the ropes, but failed to take advantage of a green-top pitch and chilly overcast conditions as the homeside reached 307 for six at the close.
Tino Best was left grieving when Taylor essayed a loose drive at his fifth delivery outside the off-stump and Kirk Edwards muffed a shoulder-high chance at third slip that would have left New Zealand tottering on 26 for three.
The former captain offered another opportunity on 122 when Tino Best spilled a catch at fine leg off Shannon Gabriel.
The 29-year-old forged half-century partnerships with Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson to swing the match New Zealand’s way.
Taylor, who scored an unbeaten double century in the series opener, was dismissed shortly before close of play when Shane Shillingford pulled off a diving catch but not before striking 15 fours from 227 balls in just over five hours of batting.
Earlier, West Indies made a bright start to the Test as New Zealand reached 79 for two lunch. Best had been in the thick of the action from the very first ball of the day, when he appeared to give the match a rousing start, as umpire Paul Reiffel, a former Australia fast bowler, adjudged Fulton lbw.
The Windies fast bowler and his teammates were however, left disappointed, when the decision was overturned following a review initiated by the batsman with television replays showing he had inside-edged the ball onto his front pad.
The Caribbean side had another chance for an early scalp, but Darren Sammy dropped Rutherford, on eight, at second slip off Gabriel in the sixth over of the morning with the home team 14 without loss.
Sammy made up for his indiscretion in the next over when he made the breakthrough, persisting with a good length outside the off-stump and Fulton eventually sparred at the first ball of the seventh over and was caught behind for six.
Sammy and Gabriel kept the New Zealanders’ top-order batsmen on a tight rein before Best returned for his second spell and had Rutherford caught behind for 11 trying to steer a rising delivery through the slips. Best finished the day with two wickets for 66 runs while Gabriel, Sammy, Shillingford and Narsingh Deonarine had a wicket each.
West Indies fielded an unchanged line-up, but the New Zealanders brought Williamson in to replace Aaron Redmond. (CMC)