New Zealand openers Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford safely negotiated their way to the close of play on the third day of the third Test against West Indies on Saturday after their bowlers had set up a likely victory with a destructive display. Trent Boult had blown the top off the West Indies order before Tim Southee polished off the tail to pick up his 100th Test wicket as New Zealand dismissed the tourists for just 103 in their second innings shortly before the close in Hamilton to set New Zealand a target of 122 runs. New Zealand,who reached 6/0 in the two overs they faced in the evening session,lead the three-match series 1-0 after cruising to victory in Wellington last week. Earlier Sunil Narine returned figures of 6/91 as New Zealand had conceded an 18-run first innings lead after they were bowled out for 349. Key to that total was Ross Taylor's who made 131 his third century of the series. But any WI advantage was lost after paceman Boult reduced the vistors to 13 for three in a devastating spell. Boult bowled Kraigg Brathwaite with an inswinger for seven on the first ball of the fifth over. He then had Kieran Powell caught by Southee at third slip for a duck before Kirk Edwards tickled a ball down the leg side and wicketkeeper BJ Watling took a sharp catch. All-rounder Anderson and Wagner then chipped away at the middle order with the latter taking the crucial wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul when he was brilliantly caught for 20 by Kane Williamson in the gully. Narsingh Deonarine became Wagner's second victim when the left hander prodded at a delivery that flew to Taylor at first slip and exposed the tail. Boult returned to the attack and had Denesh Ramdin,who scored 107 in the first innings,trapped in front for 18 before Southee finished off the tourists with his 100th test wicket when he trapped Veerasammy Permaul lbw for a duck. Brief scores: West Indies 367 & 103 (Boult 4/23,Southee 3/12) vs New Zealand 349 (R Taylor 131,K Williamson 58; Narine 6/91) & 6-0.
