Neil Wagner finished with figures of 7-39 off 14.4 overs

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

New Zealand left-arm seamer Neil Wagner sliced through the West Indies’ batting line-up with a seven-wicket haul to put his side in complete control in Wellington.

Wagner’s figures of 7-39 are the fourth-best by a New Zealand player in Test history. Sir Richard Hadlee tops the list with his outstanding figures of 9-52 against Australia in Brisbane in November 1985.

Being put in to bat first, the West Indies got off to a solid start as openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell amassed a 59-run partnership before Brathwaite was dismissed by Wagner for 24.

Powell went on to make 42 off 79 balls, which included eight boundaries, before he was caught by Jeet Raval off the bowling of Trent Boult.

Once Powell departed, everything went downhill for the men from the Caribbean as Wagner scythed through their middle and lower order like a knife through butter.

With none of the other West Indian batsmen putting up a fight, the tourists ended up being bowled out for a dismal 134.

Wagner was easily the pick of the bowlers with his seven wickets, while Boult snapped up two.

Trailing by 134 runs, Raval and Tom Latham put together a 65-run partnership before Latham was caught by Kemar Roach at wide mid-on off the bowling of West Indies captain Jason Holder for 37.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson did not last long at the crease as he was caught by Shai Hope at gully off the bowling of Roach for one run.

However, Raval and Ross Taylor ensured New Zealand made it safely to stumps as they accumulated an unbeaten 17-run partnership to leave the Black Caps trailing by 49 runs before stumps was called.

Raval finished on 29 off 101 balls, which included three boundaries, while Taylor remained undefeated on 12 off 32 deliveries, which included two boundaries.

Holder and Roach claimed one wicket each.

New Zealand ended day one on 85/2 and will continue batting on Saturday at 11:00 local time or 22:00 GMT (the day before).