Cricket: All square after second day

Sunil Narine shapes as a problem for New Zealand's batsmen as the hosts head into day three trailing by 211 runs. Photo / Getty

West Indies 367
New Zealand 156-3

Sunil Narine shapes as a problem for New Zealand's batsmen.

The off spinner's mystery variations have resulted in figures of two wickets for 43 from 22 overs at stumps on the second day of the third test in Hamilton. They're unlikely to be his last wickets in this innings.

The cacophony from the surrounding fielders is also likely to increase in decibel-level as he homes in when the third day starts.

Narine's ability to disguise his doosra and knuckle ball (where he propels the delivery out of the front of the hand using his index and middle fingers) are proving hard to detect.

Even Ross Taylor struggled as he endeavours to post his third century in as many tests.

Taylor was 56 not out at stumps with captain Brendon McCullum on 11 after Kane Williamson was adjudged lbw to Narine for 58. Williamson opted for a review but the DRS projected path sealed his fate with a flick of the leg stump bail.

Taylor has now made 418 runs in the series and averages as much, having been out once. Glenn Turner (v Australia, 1974) and Andrew Jones (v Sri Lanka, 1991) are the only other New Zealand batsmen to have made more than 400 runs in a three-test series.

New Zealand's made a cautious start to be 76 for two at tea in reply to the West Indies' 367.

Narine's efforts and the steady left-arm orthodox offerings of Veerasammy Permaul mesmerised the New Zealanders at times. On 20, Williamson miscued Permaul to extra cover where Tino Best missed a diving catch; Taylor looked edgy pondering what to do with his bat and pad.

Earlier, West Indies captain Darren Sammy produced memorable catches to remove the New Zealand openers on his 30th birthday. Hamish Rutherford drove a ball back to him in his follow-through which Sammy clasped centimetres from the ground.

Peter Fulton's demise was through a tickle to leg slip where, again, Sammy's mitts netted the ball low.

In the opening session the West Indies entrenched their position, adding 78 runs and placing the New Zealand batsmen under significant pressure to establish parity.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul anchored the morning on his way to a 29th test century. He finished on 122 not out having surpassed Allan Border on the test runs honours board by moving to sixth and 11,199 runs.

e now has 17 unbeaten centuries, the most of any test player. Upon reaching his second century against New Zealand with a cut through gully, Chanderpaul knelt and gave the Seddon Park pitch a peck on its cheek.

The 39-year-old was supported by Veerasammy Permaul who added 20 at a run a ball, including a crisply struck six over long on and a pull for four off consecutive Tim Southee balls. The New Zealand pace bowler picked him up next delivery, caught by Fulton at second slip.

Fulton could not repeat the feat when Best edged to him off Corey Anderson. The drop added to New Zealand's butterfingered roll call with Southee dropping two chances in the covers and Kane Williamson spilling one off Ish Sodhi during the innings.

Best added spark to the West Indies innings with 25. His partnership of 35 for the 10th wicket with Chanderpaul broke the record set in 1971-72 by Grayson Shillingford and Mike Findlay.

Southee produced the ball of the morning to dismiss Darren Sammy. It gave the impression the pitch may have quickened slightly overnight. Southee generated extra bounce in the channel outside off stump and lured the West Indies captain into playing away from his body.

B-J Watling took his fourth catch of the innings. He finished with five when Best edged behind off the toe of his bat to Sodhi.

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