Windies reeling at 158-4 in reply to New Zealand’s 451

WELLINGTON: West Indies were struggling at 158 for four after nearly a session was lost to rain on second day of the second Test here at the basin Reserve on Wednesday.

The efforts of BJ Watling and Trent Boult with the bat earlier meant they still had a buffer of 283 runs at stumps with the last specialist batting pair in the middle.

The West Indies openers Kirk Edwards and Kieran Powell survived over an hour to add 46 before Southee struck Powell in front as the batsman missed a flick.

West Indies started reasonably well against the new ball after copping plenty of damage on the field but New Zealand kept finding the wicket-taking delivery to end the day clearly in front as the batsman missed a flick in the first over of his second spell. Corey Anderson showed his value again as a bowler, generating movement and nip to have Darren Bravo edge early to second slip.

Then Edwards and Marlon Samuels took West Indies past 100 when Anderson produced another wicket, Edwards getting a leading edge to cover on 55. Then Boult had Shivnarine Chanderpaul reaching out to scoop a drive to cover-point.

Immediately after Chanderpaul left, the legspinner Ish Sodhi was brought on. He dropped it short frequently, and Samuels helped himself to easy boundaries to motor to a half-century in 55 balls.

New Zealand tried more spin in the form of Kane Williamson, but even his two overs proved expensive, Narsingh Deonarine cashing in this time. The stand grew to 39 by stumps, but Watling and Boult's hitting had given New Zealand quite a headstart.