Taylor equals record as New Zealand eye 2-0

West Indies 221 (Brathwaite 66, Boult 7-73) and 30 for 2 needs 414 runs to beat New Zealand 373 (Raval 84, de Grandhomme 58, Gabriel 4-119) and 291 for 8 dec (Taylor 107*, Williamson 54, Cummins 3-69)

Hamilton: New Zealand set the West Indies a world record target after Ross Taylor equalled New Zealand's best with a 17th century on day three of the second Test in Hamilton on Monday.

New Zealand declared their second innings at 291 for eight, leaving the West Indies a monumental 444 runs to win.

West Indies were 30 for 2 at stumps. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite was opn 13 while Shai Hope on one.

The current record for a victorious fourth innings chase is 418, achieved 14 years ago when the West Indies reached the target against Australia for the loss of seven wickets.

Taylor was the anchor for New Zealand, facing 198 balls and stroking 11 boundaries in his mostly majestic innings as wickets fell around him.

But he did give chances, with a top edge from Miguel Cummins flying just out of reach of wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich and on 35 he was dropped in the gully by Shai Hope off Shannon Gabriel.

The milestone came on 96 when he drove Raymon Reifer to the boundary to join his mentor, the late Martin Crowe, and current captain Kane Williamson with the New Zealand record of 17 centuries.

New Zealand were then 263 for eight and with tailender Tim Southee (not out 22) plundering more boundaries they added a further 28 runs before declaring.

The West Indies first innings folded quickly on the third morning for 221, giving New Zealand a 152-run head start going into their second knock.

Trent Boult took the last two wickets to fall in successive balls to be poised on a hat-trick when the West Indies bat again.

As New Zealand built on their lead, the West Indies continued to fight with Miguel Cummins reviving memories of a time when the calypso cricketers had seriously venemous bowlers.

He zipped the ball around the ears of the New Zealand batsmen in a short-pitched salvo mixed with full-length deliveries to have three for 69.

His scalps included Kane Williamson for 54 when the New Zealand skipper could not get his bat down fast enough on a yorker the ripped out the middle stump.

It was Cummins first ball after lunch and followed his first ball caught and bowled dismissal of Jeet Raval for four in the morning session.

He returned to the short delivery to send off the inconsistent Henry Nicholls for five when an attempt to fend the ball away was taken by wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich.

Mitchell Santner had a life when an edge off Cummins burst through Dowrich's hands to the boundary, and he was hit on the helmet when he ducked into a ball that did not bounce as expected.

But when the short-pitched salvo ended it was spinner Roston Chase who accounted for Santner, caught at long-on for 26.