Cricket: Windies make good start to run chase

Ian Bradshaw celebrates taking Stephen Fleming's wicket LBW. Sandra Mu / Getty Images

The West Indies made a solid start to their chase for 291 for victory over New Zealand in the first cricket test in Auckland, reaching 48 without loss at stumps on the third day here today.

Chris Gayle was unbeaten on 28, while Daren Ganga was on 20. Earlier, New Zealand had looked unlikely to set a target of over 200 when they found themselves at 146 for seven and with a lead of just 164.

But wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum led a lower order fightback with an innings of 74 that contained a six and five fours.

McCullum featured in a partnerships of 64 with Daniel Vettori and 62 with Shane Bond to help the Black Caps to 242 all out.

Vettori made 33 before his eighth-wicket stand with McCullum was broken, while Bond ended 18 not out.

McCullum and Vettori both fell to the finger spin of Gayle, who returned the best figures of the five West Indian bowlers, with four for 71 off 30.1 overs.

New Zealand 275 and 272, West Indies 257 and 48-0.

Scoreboard at stumps, day 3

New Zealand first innings 275
West Indies first innings 257

New Zealand second innings (overnight 98 for four overnight)

H Marshall c Ganga b Bradshaw 1
J How c Ramdin b Bradshaw 37
P Fulton b Edwards 28
S Fleming lbw b Bradshaw 33
S Styris c Bradshaw b Edwards 5
J Franklin b Gayle 20
N Astle run out 13
B McCullum c Bravo b Gayle 74
D Vettori c sub b Gayle 33
S Bond not out 18
C Martin b Gayle 0
Extras (3lb, 5nb, 2w) 10
Total (103.1 overs) 272

Fall: 11 (Marshall), 66 (How), 73 (Fulton), 88 (Styris), 118 (Fleming), 143 (Franklin), 146 (Astle), 210 (Vettori), 272 (McCullum), 272 (Martin).

Bowling: F Edwards 21-3-65-2 (4nb), I Bradshaw 34-10-83-3 (1nb, 1w), J Taylor 1-0-6-0, C Gayle 30.1-5-71-4 (1w), D Smith 17-6-44-0.

West Indies second innings

C Gayle not out 28
D Ganga not out 20
Extras 0
Total (for no loss) 48

Bowling: S Bond 4-0-20-0, J Franklin 4-0-10-0, C Martin 4-2-13-0,
D Vettori 5-4-5-0, N Astle 1-1-0-0.

- NZPA