West Indies in danger of losing Bridgetown Test

Bridgetown (Barbados), June 30 (IANS/CMC) Three wickets in the rain-hit morning session left West Indies in danger of losing the decisive third Test here, after New Zealand declared at their overnight 331 for seven on the final day of the contest here on Monday.

Set 308 for victory, West Indies collapsed to 72 for three when lunch was taken early 11.40 a.m., following a rain interruption at 11.25 am, reports CMC.

Veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul was staging one of his now familiar rescue acts with an unbeaten 23, and was partnered by the stylish Darren Bravo on 22.

Their 43-run, fourth wicket stand was important after left-arm seamer Trent Boult snapped up two wickets to send West Indies tumbling to 31 for three inside the first hour.

New Zealand struck as early as the third over when opener Kraigg Brathwaite offered no stroke to Boult and lost his off stump for six with the score on seven.

Kirk Edwards rode his luck before it finally ran out on ten, edging to Ross Taylor at first slip off Boult, to leave the Windies on 23 for two.

Seamer Tim Southee then made the key breakthrough when he bowled Chris Gayle for 11, after the Jamaican left-hander edged an attempted drive.

Boult has taken two for 33.

Brief scores:

New Zealand: 293 (Jimmy Neesham 78, Mark Craig 46 not out, Ross Taylor 45, Kane Williamson 43, Brendon McCullum 31; Sulieman Benn 5/93, Kemar Roach 4/61) and 331 for seven decl. (Kane Williamson 161 not out, Jimmy Neesham 51, Bradley-John Watling 29, McCullum 25; Roach 4/55, Jason Holder 2/26)

West Indies: 293 (Kraigg Brathwaite 68, Kirk Edwards 58, Denesh Ramdin 45, Chris Gayle 42, Holder 38; Neil Wagner 4/64, Neesham 2/12, Trent Boult 2/71) and 72 for three (Shiv Chanderpaul batting 23, Darren Bravo batting 22; Boult 2/29).