BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Sulieman Benn's fourth career five-wicket haul rattled New Zealand and gave West Indies the edge on the opening day of the decisive third Test yesterday.

The beanpole six-foot, seven-inch left-arm spinner claimed five for 93 as the Black Caps, winning the toss and batting first, were dismissed for 293, 14 minutes before the scheduled close at Kensington Oval.

Left with seven overs to negotiate, West Indies reached the safety of close without an incident, with talismanic opener Chris Gayle unbeaten on 18 and rookie Kraigg Brathwaite on 11.

Using the Oval's 50th Test match as his stage, Barbadian Benn chose an ideal time to produce his best performance of the tour, with the series on a knife's edge at 1-1.

Extracting bounce and turn in an extended spell in the post-lunch session, Benn ripped through the New Zealand innings to send the tourists sliding from 95 for two at the first interval to 194 for seven, as they lost five wickets for 99 runs.

All-rounder Jimmy Neesham top scored with 78 to help prop up the lower order, while tail-ender Mark Craig finished unbeaten on 46.

Ross Taylor, with 45, and Kane Williamson, 43, both came within sight of half-centuries before falling while captain Brendon McCullum got a start with 31 but failed to carry on.

Fast bowler Kemar Roach, despite an erratic display, finished with four for 61.

However, it was Roach who made the early breakthroughs after the Black Caps chose to bat first on another flat surface, removing both openers cheaply inside the first hour.