Stephen Fleming and James Franklin will begin day three of the first Test against the West Indies at Eden Park hoping to establish a comfortable cushion for the BLACKCAPS.
The State Wellington Firebirds pair ended the day in the middle on 98 for four, with the hosts holding a lead of 117 after removing the tourists for 257 before tea.
Fleming was not out on 19 while Franklin was in a three
Earlier, Shane Bond (pictured), Chris Martin and Daniel Vettori all took two wickets, emulating Scott Styris’ day one haul.
Martin added two scapls to his removal of Daren Ganga on day one, while Bond accounted for the dangerous Brian Lara.
Vettori captured a brace at the end of the tourists innings, his first Test wickets at the ground since taking 12 in the match against Australia exactly six years ago.
Ramnaresh Sarwan led the way with 63, and Dwayne Bravo providing 60 and Dwayne Smith 38 before both falling to Martin.
Vettori dismissed Denesh Ramdin (nine) and Fidel Edwards (one), with Jerome Taylor four not out.
The West Indies had begun the day on 51 for three and lost two wickets before entering lunch on 160 for five.
Standing at 51 for three overnight, the West Indies made up 109 by lunch.
However, the progress was gained at the cost of Lara, caught off Bond by substitute fielder Carl Cahopa at square leg.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (13) also went in the first session, caught Brendon McCullum off Franklin.
Sarwan and Bravo put together the Windies’ strongest stand, making 89 before the Guayanese fell to Bond.
Bravo and then Smith looked to progress but the BLACKCAPS soon cut through the tail.
Opening their second innings, the BLACKCAPS lost Hamish Marshall for one, caught Ganga, bowled Ian Bradshaw.
Jamie How and Peter Fulton put on 55 for the second wicket before the opener was caught behind by Denesh Ramdin off Bradshaw for 37.
Centurion Scott Styris was denied by a casual catch on the square-leg boundary by Bradshaw off Edwards for five.
With Nathan Astle recovering from a blow to the head on day one, Franklin came in up the order and the new pair added 10 before stumps.
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