Taylor’s double ton helps NZ to mammoth total

Thursday, 5 December 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

REUTERS: Ross Taylor’s first test double century helped New Zealand to 609 for nine declared before his bowlers reduced West Indies to 67 for

two as the hosts took firm control on day two of the first test in Dunedin on Wednesday. Taylor produced a controlled 217 not out and combined in a string of productive partnerships to push New Zealand past 600 for just the fourth time in their test history. It was their highest score against West Indies, surpassing the 543 for three the 1972 team scored in Guyana, and the highest test score in Dunedin, eclipsing the 586 for seven New Zealand made against Sri Lanka in 1997. “I don’t think it’s sunk in yet, maybe tonight it will,” Taylor, whose previous best score was an unbeaten 154 not out against England in Manchester in 2008, told Radio Sport. “I think my state of mind out there I was just trying to bat the same tempo, be pretty relaxed and play as straight as possible. “I actually feel like I’m still batting out there so hopefully it will sink in a bit more tonight.” After the declaration, Trent Boult had Kirk Edwards caught at second slip by Peter Fulton for a duck before Tim Southee dismissed Kieran Powell caught behind for seven to reduce the tourists to 24 for two. Darren Bravo (37 not out) and Marlon Samuels (14 not out) combined to settle the innings and guide their side to the close, albeit 542 runs in arrears.