Cricket: Black Caps scent victory

The first test between New Zealand and the West Indies was delicately poised after a frenetic final session on the fourth day today saw West Indies drop from a position of power to survival mode.

West Indies looked home and hosed chasing 291 for victory after a 148-run opening partnership between Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga, but Black Caps paceman Shane Bond dragged his side back into contention with a fine spell of reverse swing bowling, netting three for 13 in a four-over burst at Eden Park. 

Instead of facing defeat, the Black Caps head into the fifth and final day in charge as the tourists were 246 for eight at stumps with Ian Bradshaw on eight and Jerome Taylor nought, holding West Indies hopes of scratching out a win. 

Bad light option was offered to the batsmen with extra overs granted to New Zealand with victory in sight. 

With the morning session lost to rain, West Indies resumed at 48 without loss and progressed steadily through to 160 for two on the back of Gayle's 82 and Ganga's 95. 

Coupled with some shoddy New Zealand fielding, which saw three dropped catches, West Indies were poised to win their first test on foreign soil since beating Zimbabwe by 128 runs in November 2003. 

But Bond's dynamite-packed stint coincided with the fielders rediscovering their catching mitts as fine takes in the slip cordon saw the tourists slump from 183 for three to 221 for seven. 

In a test that has produced few highs, the match was dragged kicking and screaming into the final day. 

The New Zealand bowlers should be refreshed and with a new ball should be able to attack a lower order that's bound to be sweating overnight about facing an opening barrage while trying to put on a further 45 runs. 

Gayle and Ganga produced the biggest partnership of the match as New Zealand did themselves little favour by blowing two opportunities to halt the tourists' progress. 

With Gayle on 58 and West Indies 104, captain Stephen Fleming fumbled a close-in catch after an inside edge ballooned off his pads, but Fleming's one-handed attempt dashed Daniel Vettori's wicket-taking prospects. 

Four runs later Ganga slashed to Jamie How in the gully, but Chris Martin was no-balled. 

Medium pacer Nathan Astle finally dismissed Gayle when a top edge carried at shoulder height to Fleming, who bagged the catch this time. 

It was Gayle's 21st half-century, coming from 90 balls with Ganga reaching his sixth test 50 from 138 deliveries. 

West Indies first drop Ramnaresh Sarwan was another bouncing victim in this series when Bond hit his helmet. 

Sarwan lay prone on the ground before retiring hurt on four. 

Brian Lara's lean trot continued when Bond bowled him first ball around the legs. Lara shuffled across to the middle, exposing his leg stump to see his bails clipped. 

More quivers within the West Indies locker room were felt when Chanderpaul was well caught by Peter Fulton, who used height to great advantage to pluck a sharp overhead catch at short mid-wicket off Vettori. 

At 182 for three New Zealand sniffed some wobbles. 

Ganga settled the nerves slightly stroking West Indies past 200, but Astle, who missed the second day of the test through illness after being struck on the helmet, claimed Ganga's wicket as the West Indian attempted cut carried to How at gully. 

Then came the collapse triggered by Bond's great spell of reverse-swing bowling. 

Daren Smith fell for a duck, with Fleming taking a fine low catch at first slip, Sarwan, who had returned to battle, pushed at Bond with Scott Styris stretching wide to his right at second slip to snaffle the vice-captain for four. 

Dwayne Bravo was adjudged leg before wicket for 17 by Bond and Denesh Ramdin fell in the penultimate over.

 * Scoreboard at close, fourth day

New Zealand

First innings 275
Second innings 272

West Indies

First innings 257
Second innings (overnight 48-0)

C Gayle c Fleming b Astle     82
D Ganga c How b Astle       95
R Sarwan c Styris b Bond      4
B Lara b Bond           0
S Chanderpaul c Fulton b Vettori 15
D Bravo lbw Bond         17
D Smith c Fleming b Bond      0
D Ramdin c Franklin b Vettori   15
I Bradshaw not out         8
J Taylor not out          0
Extras (1b, 3lb, 5nb, 1w)     10
Total (for 8 wkts, 94 overs)   246 

Fall: 148 (Gayle), 157 (Lara), 183 (Chanderpaul), 211 (Ganga), 216 (Smith), 218 (Sarwan), 221 (Bravo), 246 (Ramdin). 

Bowling: S Bond 23-5-66-4, J Franklin 14-1-46-0 (3nb), C Martin 16-5-39-0 (2nb, 1w), D Vettori 31-10-78-2, N Astle 10-4-13-1. 

- NZPA