[www.inewsguyana.com] – New Zealand made a bad start to the second Test against West Indies in Trinidad on Monday as they were bowled out for 221.
Leading 1-0 in the series, the Black Caps would have wanted a much better start, but they collapsed in the face of some superb bowling from their hosts.
The West Indians made three changes for this game, with Shane Shillingford, Kieran Powell and Marlon Samuels making way for Shannon Gabriel, Kraigg Brathwaite and debutant Jermaine Blackwood.
Meanwhile, the Kiwis made just one alteration to the side that won in Jamaica, with Hamish Rutherford replacing the desperately out-of-form Peter Fulton at the top of the order.
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first, and on a green surface at the Queen’s Park Oval, the hosts’ seamerslooked to profit in helpful conditions.
It meant a testing opening hour for Rutherford and Tom Latham against Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach, with just 15 runs scored in the first eight overs.
However, just as the away side thought they had coped with the threat, Rutherford was dismissed for just three as he prodded an easy catch to Chris Gayle off Taylor.
Latham continued to apply himself well, leaving the ball confidently while also punishing loose deliveries when they came.
Alongside him, Kane Williamson also looked in good touch, but he could have been removed for just 19 as he saw a cut shot off SuliemanBenn dropped by Gayle.
At the other end, Latham became increasingly fluent and would reach his third consecutive fifty from 83 balls just before the lunch break.
Williamson finished the session unbeaten on 23, with the Black Caps on top at 86-1.
After the interval, the New Zealand pair looked comfortable despite the slow run rate as they guided the visitors past 100 with no alarms, but then on 120 disaster struck.
Looking to hit a pull shot, Williamson got a top edge off Gabriel and could only find substitute Jason Holder, who took a good catch at fine leg to remove the right-hander for 42.
Ross Taylor came to the crease, while Latham looked to continue on and reach his first Test century, but the 22-year-old would fall short.
