Black Caps in command

New Zealand seamer Tim Southee has stolen the spotlight from opener Chris Gayle, playing in his 100th Test match for the West Indies.

Southee was outstanding picking up 4-19, including the invaluable wicket of Gayle for 64, as the Black Caps bowled out the Windies for 262 in the final session of day three of the first Test in Kingston, Jamaica.

On a supposedly flat Sabina Park pitch, the 25-year-old started the morning strongly, bowling a faultless line and length to the left-hander resulting in 29 dot balls from 30 deliveries. 

Southee struck three times after lunch, removing Gayle and Marlon Samuels for a duck in the same over, then striking again in the over before tea when Denesh Ramdin edged a slower ball to keeper BJ Watling and was gone for 39.

His fourth came with just one hour of play remaining - Shane Shillingford for 14.

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum opted not to enforce the follow on, and the Black Caps take a 246-run lead into their second innings.

Rookie offspinner Mark Craig also celebrated his Test debut with a four-wicket bag.

Craig, who finished with figures of 4-91, had the Windies on the back foot early on after they resumed at 19 without loss, chasing the Black Caps 508-7dec.

He trapped Kieran Powell lbw for 28 with the first ball of the 28th over, then removed Kirk Edwards two balls later after he edged a thick outside edge to Ross Taylor at first slip.

Craig struck again after tea, finding an inside edge off Kemar Roach (4) which ballooned up to Peter Fulton at leg slip. His fourth came at the tail end of the innings, clean bowling Sulieman Benn for 17.

Young legspinner Ish Sodhi and pace man Trent Boult also chipped in for the Black Caps with a wicket apiece.

Sodhi took a looping return catch after Dwayne Bravo popped a full ball straight back to him in the 29th over, while Boult's bounce caught Jerome Taylor off guard in the 69th over and Brendon McCullum took a diving catch at short cover.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who put on 72 for sixth wicket with Denesh Ramdin, provided the only innings of real note for the West Indies with an unbeaten 84.

New Zealand's hopes of a rare overseas Test win were, however, shaken by a challenging final hour.

They ended the day on 14-2 for an overall lead of 260 with two days at Sabina Park remaining.

Opener Peter Fulton, who made one in the first innings, continued his run of dismal form when he stretched wide and edged an outswinger from Jerome Taylor to keeper Denesh Ramdin without scoring.

Kane Williamson, who compiled a measured 113 in the first innings, added only two to the score before he shouldered arms and a full delivery from Kemar Roach clipped his off stump.

Newcomer Ish Sodhi came in as nightwatchman, ending the day on four not out to join Tom Latham (8) to see New Zealand through to stumps.