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Benn puts West Indies on top

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West Indies spinner Sulieman Benn's five-wicket haul restricted New Zealand to 293 all out on the opening day of the third and deciding Test in Barbados.

With the series finely poised at 1-1, Benn used turn and bounce off the pitch to his advantage in his 5-93, while paceman Kemar Roach chipped in with four wickets to put the Windies on the front foot.

Jimmy Neesham's 78 off 91 balls, plus an unbeaten 46 from Mark Craig, helped the Black Caps add 99 for the final three wickets, but they may be rue opting to bat first after the Windies closed on 32 without loss

New Zealand's elected to post a total on a dry pitch and it appeared to be a questionable move as both their openers departed before the 10th over.

Roach made the double breakthrough, with Hamish Rutherford tamely chipping to Chanderpaul at mid-on before Tom Latham was trapped plumb in front, having earlier successfully reviewed an lbw decision off the same bowler.

In the third over after lunch, Kane Williamson perished for 43 after edging Benn to first slip to end a partnership of 74 with Ross Taylor.

The 6ft 7in bowler then took a stunning one-handed diving catch at gully as Ross Taylor fell for 45 after he could only fend a lifter from the impressive Roach up in the air.

Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum put on a partnership of 54 with Neesham but appeared uncomfortable throughout his innings of 31 which came to an end when he bizarrely spooned Benn up in the air to Darren Bravo in the slips.

BJ Watling was undone by the turn off the pitch as he came forward and edged to Chris Gayle at slip off Benn, who bowled Tim Southee to leave New Zealand on 194 for seven.

Any hopes West Indies had of firing out the lower order were undone by Neesham, who crashed Jerome Taylor over midwicket for six before cutting to third man for three off Benn to move to a 56-ball half-century.

Neesham was needlessly run out after hesitating while looking for a quick single, with Kraigg Brathwaite's throw from short cover catching the left-hander out of his ground.

It also ended a stand of 64 with Craig, who benefited from Benn dropping a tough caught and bowled chance early on in his innings to frustrate the hosts.

Craig struck four fours and a six in his 45 not out but he ran out of partners as first Neil Wagner was caught down the leg side off Roach while last man Trent Boult was stumped looking for a big hit off Benn, who claimed the fourth Test five-wicket haul of his career.

Gayle and Brathwaite survived the remaining nine overs in the day and give the Windies a platform for Friday.


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