The West Indies were deteriorating rapidly after Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel and captain Daniel Vettori put the tourists into early strife at lunch on day one of the second cricket test at McLean Park here today.
At the end of the first session on a perfect batting surface the West Indies were struggling at 74 for four.
O'Brien started the rot with his first ball by removing West Indian dangerman Chris Gayle while Patel also made an early breakthrough as the tourists slumped from 43 without loss.
O'Brien succeeded in squaring up the West Indian captain who edged the ball from the shoulder of his bat to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum when on 34 to trigger the collapse.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul was not out seven at the interval alongside Australian-born middle order batsman Brendan Nash, who was yet to score.
O'Brien almost had more success with his second delivery when Ramnaresh Sarwan pushed a back foot drive just wide of Daniel Vettori at mid-on but Sarwan soon became Patel's 17th test scalp when he feathered a cut to McCullum when on 11 to reduce the West Indies to 54 for two.
Xavier Marshall (6) was the third wicket to fall when Jesse Ryder took a one handed screamer at third slip to give O'Brien more cause for celebration while Vettori chimed in with the wicket of Chattergoon, caught by Jamie How at second slip after the opener had made a painstaking 13 off 72 balls.
Earlier, Gayle had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss under clear skies.
The left hander was typically aggressive against opening bowlers James Franklin and Kyle Mills, scoring five boundaries at ease before he was deceived by an O'Brien delivery that nipped off the seam to end his ominous 49-ball innings.
Before O'Brien struck the West Indies openers looked in control although Chattergoon had several anxious moments.
An aerial cut shot through point wrong footed Patel when the opener was on two and he had another life on six when he would have been stranded mid-pitch had Ross Taylor's throw hit the target at the bowler's end from mid-on.
Chattergoon also had a scare on seven when Jesse Ryder could not hold a sharp chance at silly point off during Patel's first over.
Franklin and Mills looked ineffectual with the new ball, particularly left armer Franklin who was relieved by O'Brien after his first seven overs cost 26.
O'Brien had two for 15 from six overs at lunch while Patel, the only change from the side that drew the first test in Dunedin last week, had one for 10 from an 11-over spell including six maidens.
The West Indies also made one change to their line-up, bringing in left arm orthodox bowler Sulieman Benn for quick Lionel Baker.
NZPA
