But Kirk Edwards quickly shifted the momentum, hitting an aggressive 55 off 64 balls and dominating a third wicket stand of 93 with fellow Barbadian Brathwaite.
Once he was belatedly introduced, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi claimed Edwards to an outside edge just before lunch at 109-3. Edwards hit seven fours and three sixes.Brathwaite and Bravo dominated for much of the rest of the day in an enterprising stand. The pair was particularly severe on the spin duo of Sodhi and Mark Craig.
New Zealand finally separated the pair late in the day when part-time off-spinner Kane Williamson removed Bravo to a skied catch to long-off.Trent Boult (2-30) ended Brathwaite's long vigil just before stumps as the determined right-hander miscued a drive for a return catch.
Opener Kraigg Brathwaite hit an unbeaten 85 to be in sight of his maiden test century, and Darren Bravo hit 58 not out as the West Indies powered to 209-3 in reply to New Zealand's 221 by tea on the second day of the second cricket test at the Queen's Park Oval.The 21-year-old Brathwaite hit nine fours off 170 balls in 263 minutes.
Left-hander Bravo, on home soil, was more aggressive, striking eight fours off 101 balls.
The pair's third wicket stand was worth 100 and was unbroken at the interval.In an extended second session due to an hour-long rain delay, New Zealand was thwarted by positive batting and its bowlers produced very few anxious moments.
Brathwaite brought up his half century, off 100 deliveries, just after lunch before a heavy shower halted play.The 25-year-old Bravo became the third West Indian to a half century just before tea, off 82 balls.New Zealand took two wickets before lunch in nightwatchman Sulieman Benn (4) and Kirk Edwards, whose aggressive 55 gave the home team momentum.
Edwards and Brathwaite added 93 for the third wicket.
-AAP
