Black Caps back in third Test

The Black Caps battled their way back into the third Test against the West Indies in Barbados, although a gutsy bowling performance was marred by the loss of early wickets in the final session of day three.

Resuming on 169-2 on a dry, slow pitch at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, the West Indies were all out for 317 at tea in reply to New Zealand's first innings total of 293.

The Black Caps lost three wickets in the last session of the day, ending on 123-3 to take a 99-run lead into day four.

Openers Tom Latham and Hamish Rutherford both went early, the in-form Latham a key wicket when he miscued Kemar Roach in the second over, gifting Shane Shillingford the easiest of catches at midwicket without scoring.

Rutherford, who has struggled for runs in the three-Test series, fell for 19 when he sent a thick outside edge through to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin after prodding at a well pitched-up delivery from Roach.

New Zealand's woes were compounded four overs later, when Test debutant Jason Holder removed Ross Taylor - the former New Zealand captain making just eight before edging to Darren Bravo at second slip.

Kane Williamson anchored the innings with a disciplined 58, combining with skipper Brendon McCullum (23) in an unbeaten 55-run stand for the fourth wicket.

The Black Caps bowlers had worked hard earlier, Otago seamer Neil Wagner the chief destroyer with figures of 4-64.

The left-armer picked up two wickets in the morning session, removing Bravo with a slower ball for 24 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 15 in the last over before lunch.

Tim Southee also made a timely contribution when he found a little reverse swing and collected a leading edge from Kirk Edwards (58) which swirled out to Rutherford for a well-judged catch running back from mid-on.

Trent Boult made the most of the new ball after lunch, trapping the dangerous Ramdin lbw for 45 then clipping Roach's outside edge through to keeper BJ Watling without scoring two overs later.

Wagner finished on 4-64, while Boult toiled hard for 2-71 and Jimmy Neesham collected 2-12 in tidying up the tailenders.