Henry Nicholls' fighting innings has swung the opening day New Zealand's way in the second test against West Indies at Wellington's Basin Reserve.
The 29-year-old left-hander was on 117, with Kyle Jamieson on one at stumps, as New Zealand reached 294/6.
Nicholls had not passed 50 in 13 test innings, since scoring 107 against Bangladesh at the same ground in March 2019, and rode his luck on a pitch that offered the West Indies bowlers assistance all day.
He was dropped three times - twice at first slip - and took several deliveries on the body from the visitors' pace attack, but shared in a 70-run partnership with Will Young (43), 55 runs with BJ Watling (30) and 83 with Daryl Mitchell (42).
West Indies captain Jason Holder won the toss and asked NZ skipper Tom Latham, who was standing in for Kane Williamson, to bat on a heavily grassed wicket that had been under covers all week.
Shannon Gabriel provided a horror opening for the tourists, who need a victory to level the two-match series, by bowling too wide on a full length and conceded 21 runs in his first two overs.
Gabriel shortened his length slightly after those first 12 deliveries, and got the ball to move and jump off a length to create false shots.
He also hit all of the batsmen several times, and captured the wickets of Tom Blundell (14), Young and Ross Taylor (nine) to finish with figures of 3/57 from 18 overs.
Debutant Chemar Holder also proved a handful for New Zealand's batsmen and finished the day with 2/65.
Join us at 11am Saturday for live updates of the second Blackcaps v West Indies test
