Centuries from Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra underpinned New Zealand’s domination on Day 3 in Christchurch, as the hosts transformed a modest 64-run advantage into a towering lead that now feels insurmountable.

The pair’s third-wicket stand of 279 ensured a potentially gripping third day went flat halfway through. West Indies merely went through the motions, sitting back and hoping for a declaration to bring them some relief from being run ragged. This was New Zealand’s highest partnership against West Indies since 1987 – surpassing Martin Crowe and John Wright’s 241 run stand.

Things could’ve been a lot different had they caught better.

Ravindra’s innings began under a cloud of uncertainty. On 8, Kemar Roach grassed a sumptuous flick at midwicket as he threw himself at the ball one-handed. On 14, Kavem Hodge put down a regulation catch at slip, leaving Justin Greaves to wear the frustration of being the unlucky bowler twice in two overs. The charmed streak continued when another thick outside edge flew over the slips on 17.

For the first half hour after lunch, Ravindra seemed to live on borrowed time. But once he survived that turbulent spell, the tentativeness gave way to assurance, and the elegance that has come to define his best batting was out in full glory. He raced to 176, before being knocked over late in the day by an Ojay Shields yorker.

By stumps, New Zealand had added 395 to lead by 481. For the record, West Indies will have to achieve the highest successful chase to win at Hagley Oval – 285 is the highest fourt innings score chased down at this venue.

Before Ravindra arrived, Devon Conway and Latham played a solid first hour, focusing on crease occupation in a bid to lay a strong platform. Latham left well early on, while Conway exhibited his artistry – playing the cover drives and on-drives – early in the innings.

Roach moved the ball away appreciably early on to have Conway in a hint of trouble, while Jayden Seales got the ball to lift off a length to have Latham looking scratchy early on. The first 17 overs produced just 35; Latham survived a thick edge that raced between second slip and gully on 29.

Conway set himself in, and was out slashing to deep point for 39 as Hodge plucked a superb catch while moving halfway in from the ropes. Initially off balance, Hodge back-pedalled to complete the catch. One wicket became two when Roach had Kane Williamson nicking behind with a perfect out-swinger.

Having got off the mark with a top-edge for six off Greaves, Williamson was troubled by his late movement before Roach had him in the last over before lunch, with New Zealand effectively 164 for 2. The spell after lunch was perhaps West Indies’ best chance to get into the game as they routinely created chances, only for them to be grassed.

If the first session was about the hard grind, the second was about accumulating and pressing home the advantage. Ravindra didn’t take long to march into the 40s, and even got into a bit of a scrap with Seales. The pair brought up their century stand off just 126 deliveries, with Ravindra’s enterprise allowing Latham to also open up after getting past his half-century.

Latham was particularly punishing square of the wicket on both sides, with the cuts and pulls, as he pounced on a tired attack that kept pounding the ball in even as the surface appeared to have lost a lot of the venom seen on the first two days. Latham brought up his century first, while Ravindra got there with a pull through midwicket – his second successive century.

After he passed a hundred, as West Indies went defensive, Latham brought out the inventive batter in him – scooping and paddling his way to a couple of boundaries. It seemed inevitable the pair would bat through, but a lapse in concentration late in the day saw them fall in back-to-back overs. But even those two wickets were no consolation for West Indies as they face an uphill battle for survival.

Brief scores:
New Zealand 231 and 417 for 4 (Rachin Ravindra 176, Tom  Latham 145, Kemar Roach 2-61, Ojay Shields 2-64) lead West Indies 167 by 481 runs

[Cricinfo]