Trent Boult destroyed the West Indies top order as New Zealand ruthlessly took control of the third Test by dismissing the tourists for just 103 in their second innings in Hamilton. The word destroyed doesn’t do justice to the performance put up by the Kiwi bowlers as they wrapped up the entire the Windies side in less than a session on a pitch which was conducive for batting.
Boult took four wickets, including all of the top three, as the Windies could establish a second-innings lead of only 121 in the third and final Test which they need to win to draw the series.
Before tea, Taylor finished with 28 runs more than 11 West Indies batsmen and the leg-byes put together to pilot New Zealand past 300. Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson gave it away in the morning, aggression causing their downfall, while Taylor ticked along solidly and calmly, at his own pace, never in doubt.
Wagner and Southee cut the deficit further but the tail could not survive too long against Narine, and he spun out the last three to go to 18 wickets from three Tests against New Zealand. The one over he bowled in the evening signalled that the target of 122 wouldn’t be chased down easily.
The writing was on the wall for the Windies in the fifth over when Boult clean bowled Kraigg Brathwaite, then had Kieran Powell caught at slip. Soon after Boult had Kirk Edwards strangled down the leg side, before Shivnarine Chanderpaul launched the briefest of counter-attacks with a clutch of boundaries.
When Marlon Samuels nicked Corey Anderson behind and Neil Wagner accounted for Chanderpaul courtesy of a fine low catch from Kane Williamson at slip to leave them 46 for five, it was only a matter of time.
It will be a very interesting 4th Day of this test match. The West Indies will look at Sunil Narine and his fellow spinners for some magic and New Zealand will be hoping for some sane heads to prevail as they chase down what is a relatively modest total of 121.