Napier, December 20:

A century stand by Tim McIntosh and Daniel Flynn put New Zealand in the box seat as they hunted down the West Indies first innings total of 307 in the second cricket Test here on Saturday. At stumps on the second day, New Zealand were 145-2, with McIntosh on 62 and Flynn out for 57, requiring a further 163 runs to take lead.

The West Indies first innings was wrapped up in an hour on the second day with a masterful 126 not out by Shivnarine Chanderpaul providing the backbone of an undaunting 307 on an easy wicket. The chief destroyer for New Zealand was Iain O’Brien who finished with career best 6-75.

New Zealand’s reply started with an early setback when the Jamie How survived two chances before falling for 12, pulling Fidel Edwards straight to Sewnarine Chattergoon at square leg. McIntosh was given a life when he skied an attempted pull shot. Edwards, looking for his 100th Test wicket, and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin both ran for the catch then pulled out at the last moment.

New Zealand were then 36-1 and the lack of calling proved costly as the home side added 101 runs before Edwards reached his milestone with the caught and bowled dismissal of Flynn for 57. By tea, they had raised the score to a patient 74-1. The pair lifted the pace to add 63 runs in 23 overs before Flynn fell in a rain and bad light-disrupted final session.

Resuming the day at 258-6, the West Indies innings lasted just over an hour and produced a further 49 runs. Chanderpaul was left not out on 126 with his 20th Test century lasting four hours and 22 minutes and including 11 fours and three sixes. O’Brien was New Zealand’s star as be bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket, taking the remaining four wickets to fall.