Cricket: Neesham makes history with second ton

New Zealand batsmen Jimmy Neesham, right, and BJ Watling, run between the wickets. Photo / AP

Jimmy Neesham has joined a unique list in test cricket after scoring his second test century on day two of the opening test against the West Indies at Sabina Park.

Neesham became just the eighth player in the history of test cricket to score centuries in his first two tests - and the first to do it against two different opponents.

He was eventually dismissed for 107, caught behind off the bowling of spinner Sulieman Ben. Neesham and BJ Watling put on 201 for the sixth wicket to put New Zealand in a strong position at stumps after West Indies spin bowlers did the damage before lunch.

Watling fell 11 runs short of his fourth test century and the chance to score back-to-back test tons as New Zealand declared on 508 for seven. Tim Southee hit a quickfire 21 from seven balls, including two sixes to get the Black Caps past 500.

New Zealand declared following Watling's dismissal, caught in the deep and at stumps the hosts were 19 without loss with Chris Gayle on 8 and Kieran Powell 11.

Peter Fulton dropped a catch in the fourth over, putting down Powell on eight after Southee drew an edge from the lefthander.

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Neesham scored his debut ton (137 not out) against India at the Basin Reserve in Wellington at the start of the year. He batted alongside Brendon McCullum in New Zealand's second innings of the test as his skipper became the first New Zealander to reach 300.

Watling also scored a century in that innings against India, his third, putting on a record sixth wicket 352-run partnership with McCullum.

From the archives:

Neesham makes own history on debut

Benn (3-142) and Shane Shillingford (3-145) were the pick of the West Indies bowlers with six of the New Zealand wickets falling to spin.

In the morning session, New Zealand's No. 3 Kane Williamson, who dominated day one with his sixth test century, eventually went to Benn for 113.

Former skipper Ross Taylor, overnight 34, scored a resolute 55 at Sabina Park.

Earlier, Williamson and Taylor patiently stretched their third-wicket stand to 85 in the first 45 minutes before Benn knocked back Williamson's off stump as the batsman played no stroke. Williamson hit 12 fours off 298 balls.

Shillingford soon added the scalp of Taylor, who chipped an ondrive to Kirk Edwards at midwicket. Taylor hit eight fours in just under three hours.

New Zealand quickly dipped to 279-5 when Benn got one to turn and bounce. McCullum's edge went to Chris Gayle at slip via the shoulder of wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.

Centuries in first two tests
Bill Ponsford (Australia) vs England, Sydney and Melbourne, 1924-5
Doug Walters (Australia) vs England, Brisbane and Melbourne, 1965-66
Alvin Kallicharran (West Indies) vs New Zealand, Georgetown and Port of Spain, 1972
Mohammad Azharuddin (India) vs England, Kolkata and Chennai, 1984-85
Greg Blewett (Australia) vs England, Adelaide and perth, 1994-95
Sourav Ganguly (India) vs England, Lord's and Notthingham, 1996
Rohit Sharma (India) vs West Indies, Kolkata and Mumbai, 2013
Jimmy Neesham (New Zealand) v India and West Indies, Wellington and Kingston, 2014

- With AP