It was New Zealand who had the early scare when key fast bowler Shane Bond pulled out with a stomach virus just before the match began, but when play started it was the West Indies who were looking decidedly ill.

Rain brought an early end to the second session with Runako Morton not out 59 after standing firm at one end of the wicket while wickets tumbled regularly at the other.

Just as they did in their last outing in the first Test, Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga mounted a strong opening attack. But when they reached 43 it all went awry as the West Indies lost three wickets for just six runs including Brian Lara who went for one.

Lara, who fell first ball to Bond in each innings of the first Test, looked jittery shuffling around his crease, and after facing four balls, he misjudged a wide delivery from James Franklin giving Stephen Fleming a low catch at first slip.

The stage was set for Shivnarine Chanderpaul to play an innings-saving captain's knock but he was unlucky to be dismissed on the last ball before lunch when umpire Daryl Harper adjudged him caught at slip off Chris Martin when television replays indicated the ball had come off the thigh pad.

It was a decision that left the West Indies captain befuddled and shaking his head as he walked off and the players followed him for lunch.

Franklin struck twice more soon after lunch, fortunate to be given the scalp of Dwayne Bravo leg before wicket while there was no doubt about the ball that bowled Denesh Ramdin, leaving the West Indies at 108 for six.

Raul Lewis joined Morton to try to stabilise proceedings and they added 34 runs before Lewis edged Martin to give Fleming his third catch of the match.

Ian Bradshaw was on 10 at the break, having put on 19 runs with Morton for the eighth wicket, while for New Zealand Franklin had figures of four for 38 and Martin had two for 66.

Scoreboard at tea on the first day:

West Indies 1st innings
C. Gayle c McCullum b Franklin 30
D. Ganga c McCullum b Mills 15
R. Morton not out 59
B. Lara c Fleming b Franklin 1
S. Chanderpaul c Fleming b Martin 8
D. Bravo lbw Franklin 9
D. Ramdin b Franklin 2
R. Lewis c Fleming b Martin 22
I. Bradshaw not out 10
Extras (b 2, nb 3) 5
Total (7 wkts) 161

Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-45, 3-49, 4-80, 5-102, 6-108, 7-142
Bowling: Martin 14-1-66-2 (1nb) Franklin 14-5-38-4 (1nb), Mills 13-3-38-1 (1nb), Vettori 5-2-13-0, Astle 3-2-4-0

Toss: West Indies
Umpires: Mark Benson (ENG), Daryl Harper (AUS)
Third umpire: Mike Proctor (RSA)