Patient Windies strike late in Hamilton

Jeet Raval and Colin de Grandhomme have scored contrasting half-centuries for New Zealand as the West Indies struck back late for bragging rights on the opening day of the second cricket Test in Hamilton.

The Black Caps, leading the two-match series 1-0, were 7-286 at stumps after losing four wickets in the final session on Saturday. Tom Blundell was 12 not out and Neil Wagner one.

De Grandhomme, fresh from his 71-ball century in Wellington, continued his clean hitting in reaching 58 off 63 balls, including four sixes.

Earlier, opener Raval scored his sixth Test fifty but again failed to convert it into a century.

In his ninth Test, he looked comfortable and watchful to be on course for his maiden Test ton when on 84 (off 157 deliveries) a good Shannon Gabriel ball found the outside edge.

"We had a good start to the day and they came back later so even leading into tomorrow," he told reporters afterwards.

"At 150 for one their bowlers came back stronger in second half of the day and I think the pitch may have hardened up which helped the ball nip a little more. It was a tale of two halves."

Raval denied missing out on a century was frustrating.

"For me it's about making a solid contribution to the team target. If I can do that consistently I know I'm giving myself a good chance."

The West Indies will feel very happy with seven wickets after winning the toss but failing to make much headway in the morning session, getting just the wicket of opener Tom Latham.

Gabriel was expensive in his first spell in the morning, but came back later, getting the wicket of Raval after lunch.

With the new ball late in the final session he clean bowled both Mitchell Santner (24) and de Grandhomme and finished with figures of 3-79.

Gabriel said they were happy with seven wickets but disappointed New Zealand got as much as they did.

"I just think they scored 30-40 runs too much but... I think a good day of Test cricket. I think we were trying too much," he said of the first session.

"We didn't really assess the wicket too well... but after lunch we decided we wanted to be patient, luckily things happened for us."

In Wellington, the tourists were thumped by an innings and 67 runs and then lost tour captain Jason Holder to suspension for low over rates - the role in Hamilton taken by opener Kraigg Brathwaite. On Saturday the tourists were three short of bowling the required 90 overs.

New Zealand: Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult.

West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Kieran Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Sunil Ambris, Shane Dowrich (wk), Jason Holder (capt), Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel.