West Indies ride on Edwards' seven strikes

West Indies 307 and 62 for 2 (Gayle 36*) trail New Zealand 371 (McIntosh 136, Ryder 57, Edwards 7-87) by 2 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Fidel Edwards took a career-best seven wickets and Tim McIntosh gained a maiden century to share the honours on the third day at McLean Park, where New Zealand hold a two-run advantage in the deciding Test. McIntosh, playing his second game, scored 136 and when he was dismissed New Zealand were cruising at 316 for 4.

However, the West Indies fast bowlers struck quick blows and Edwards cleaned up the tail to finish with 7 for 87. The visitors looked to erase the first-innings deficit of 64 quickly and ended at 62 for 2, with Chris Gayle unbeaten on 36.

Edwards was vicious against the lower order, showing no mercy as he and his fellow seamers bullied the New Zealanders with some quick short-pitched bowling. Placing the hosts on the back foot, Edwards pressured his victims into submitting to his thoughtful plans.

He started the day with 2 for 30 and quickly added to the collection when he had Ross Taylor caught behind off the second ball of the day. He picked up the vital wicket of Jesse Ryder for 57 when he slashed at a wide delivery and edged to Denesh Ramdin.

Edwards had a long spell away from the bowling crease before coming back to claim Daniel Vettori caught behind for 29, Kyle Mills (18) leg before via the referral system and, finally, Jeetan Patel, who was taken at forward short-leg by Xavier Marshall for 2. The wicketkeeper Ramdin finished with four catches.

The opening session honours belonged to McIntosh, who faced 337 balls and collected 21 boundaries. Since Mark Richardson retired at the end of 2004, New Zealand have struggled to find a suitable replacement at the top of the order, and McIntosh, with his ability to bat for long periods and stylish stroke play, looks to be the man to fill the void. His breakthrough innings finally ended when a Jerome Taylor slower ball deceived him and breached his tight defence, which had defied the visitors' attack for 455 minutes.

McIntosh's confidence grew throughout his innings as he began to play a few more shots, and he was particularly quick to latch on to any short-pitched deliveries. He also played a number of memorable drives through the covers, beating the fieldsman at deep point on numerous occasions.

McIntosh and Ryder put on a vibrant 100 in the opening session to give the hosts substantial momentum before Edwards struck. The stand between McIntosh and Brendon McCullum threatened to take the game away from the visitors as they put on 71 off 88 balls before a double blow from Taylor. McCullum guided a catch through to Ramdin, and when James Franklin edged Powell to Chris Gayle at first slip for 0, New Zealand had lost 3 for 3.

A few minutes before McCullum's dismissal, he and Powell were involved in an ugly incident, with Powell removed from bowling by Gayle for throwing the ball at the batsman. McCullum looked to advance down the track before Powell reached his delivery stride and that put the bowler off in his run-up. McCullum and Powell then became involved in a heated exchange and Powell was forced to cool off at fine leg for a couple of overs before being brought back on to remove Franklin.

The hosts were bundled out for 371 an hour into the final session and West Indies, behind by 64 on the first innings, came out with all guns blazing. Gayle and Sewnarine Chattergoon scored 55 in the opening eight overs, with Iain O'Brien coming in for some special punishment, going for 33 in four.

Chattergoon gave a glimpse of his true talent by square driving beautifully off the back foot. Gayle sat back and waited for the length which enabled him to deposit several powerful pull shots over midwicket, two of which cleared the ropes. However, Vettori opted for a change of pace and brought Patel on initially before the pair grabbed a wicket each. Patel had Chattergoon edging to Taylor at slip for 25 and then Vettori trapped Ramnaresh Sarwan in front. The two late strikes lifted New Zealand's spirits and they head in to the penultimate day with a slight advantage.