New Zealand in control after Wagner's seven-wicket haul

Wellington, December 1: It was the Neil Wagner show as the New Zealand paceman tore through West Indies' batting line-up to put the Black Caps in a commanding position at stumps on day one of the first Test.

Wagner ripped through the Windies', taking Test-best figures of 7-39 off 14.4 overs to help topple the tourists for just 134 in Wellington on Friday.

The 31-year-old – who was twice on a hat-trick in the first innings at Basin Reserve – orchestrated West Indies' stunning collapse before tea, after Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell had put on a 59-run opening partnership.

West Indies' woes were compounded by a humiliating maiden appearance for Sunil Ambris, who became the first batsman to be out hit-wicket for a golden duck on Test debut.

New Zealand lost two wickets for three runs before the close of play, captain Kane Williamson (1) and opener Tom Latham (37) succumbing to Kemar Roach and Jason Holder respectively as Jeet Raval (29 not out) and Ross Taylor (12 not out) guided the Kiwis to 85-2, 49 runs adrift.

Williamson won the toss, electing to bowl first and it seemed to be a questionable decision early as the Windies looked comfortable in the middle, with no seam or swing movement for Trent Boult (2-36) and Matt Henry (0-39).

Brathwaite (24) and Powell (42) thwarted the New Zealand attack on a dominant morning for the Windies, that was before it all went downhill.

Wagner set the tone, angling a short delivery to Brathwaite, who awkwardly fended a catch to Henry Nicholls at short leg in the 22nd over.

Boult then removed Powell eight runs shy of a half-century and Wagner struck to dismiss Shimron Hetmyer (13) in the final over before lunch to leave the Windies 79-3.

Wagner continued where he left off after the break, Shai Hope (0) the next victim on his second ball when play resumed before 24-year-old Ambris stepped back on his stumps with the first ball faced.

At 80-5, the Windies' hopes rested on Roston Chase (5) and Shane Dowrich (18) but there was no stopping Wagner, who got the former to edge a ball to Raval, while the latter was comically run out by Mitchell Santner.

Holder fell to Wagner for a duck and the Black Caps veteran – who became the first New Zealand bowler since Daniel Vettori in 2006 to take seven wickets on home soil – cleaned up Shannon Gabriel (10) after Boult bowled Miguel Cummins (1).

Source: OPTA