The China Mail - West Indies on the ropes in record run chase against New Zealand

Despite battling an eye infection Hope was not-out 57, to go with his first-innings 56, while Justine Greaves was on 16.

With only six wickets left the West Indies need a further 424 runs.

The West Indies need to break their own record fourth-innings chase to overhaul New Zealand, having reached 418-7 to beat Australia in 2003.

Openers John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul had appeared comfortable in the 11 overs they faced before lunch after the New Zealand second innings closed at 466-8.

But two wickets in three balls from Jacob Duffy after the break and one each to Michael Bracewell and Matt Henry tempered the tourists' outlook.

Duffy, who took five wickets in the first innings, removed Campbell for 15 in the second over after lunch with a seaming delivery that clipped the edge of the bat and Bracewell held the catch diving in front of first slip.

At the start of his next over Duffy had Chanderpaul caught behind for six.

Right-arm spinner Bracewell picked up an easy wicket when he accounted for Alick Athanaze (five).

A short-pitched delivery which should have been despatched to the boundary was instead spooned to Zak Foulkes at mid-on.

Henry, who has been troubled by a hamstring issue that restricted his first spell to three overs, came back into the attack to remove captain Roston Chase for four.

New Zealand resumed the day at 417-4 and added 49 runs in an hour before Kemar Roach ended the innings taking a return catch from Duffy (10).

Roach also took the wickets of Bracewell and Henry to finish with 5-78.

The New Zealand innings closed with eight down with Tom Blundell (hamstring) and Nathan Smith (side strain) ruled out for the rest of the Test and in doubt for the second Test, which starts in Wellington next Wednesday.

Z.Huang--ThChM