Shannon Gabriel impressed as West Indies bounced back from their Wellington humiliation to make things difficult for New Zealand on day one of the second Test.

The Windies were put to the sword by the Black Caps Monday, humbled by an innings and 67 runs inside four days as the hosts scored at will.

But the Windies showed signs of life in Hamilton Saturday, restricting New Zealand to 286-7 at stumps thanks to Gabriel's three-wicket haul (3-83), while Miguel Cummins (2-33), Kemar Roach (1-45) and debutant Raymon Reifer (1-36) also impressed.

Jeet Raval (84) fell 16 runs short of a Test ton as the Kiwis lost 35-4, having been 154-1, however Colin de Grandhomme (58) and Mitchell Santner (24) managed to steady the ship, though the Windies toiled well to ensure day-one honours were relatively even at Seddon Park.

Stand-in skipper Kraigg Brathwaite – leading the Windies in the absence of banned captain Jason Holder after he was suspended for maintaining a slow over-rate in the opening Test – won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Brathwaite felt there was enough in the pitch to encourage his bowlers but it appeared to be a questionable decision early in the warm and sunny conditions as Raval starred for the hosts.

While fellow opener Tom Latham (22) succumbed to Cummins in the 20th over after gloving a short ball to wicketkeeper Dowrich, Raval looked comfortable alongside captain Kane Williamson (43) during the morning session.

The pair led New Zealand to 87-1 at lunch, but the Windies struck with two wickets following the main break to exert some control.

New Zealand's runs dried up in the middle session as the Windies sent Williamson and Raval back to the pavilion for just 86 runs.

Williamson became Cummins' second wicket of the day when he edged a ball to Dowrich, seven runs shy of his 26th Test fifty.

After celebrating his sixth career half-century, Raval was unable to go on to a ton, nicking a Gabriel delivery through to Dowrich three overs later.

The Black Caps were still in a strong position of 173-3 at tea as Ross Taylor (16) and Henry Nicholls (13) saw out the session.

But the duo came unstuck after tea, falling within three runs of each other as Roach dismissed Taylor – who surpassed Stephen Fleming for most Test runs at Seddon Park with his 790th, while Nicholls was trapped lbw by Reifer.

Santner and De Grandhomme got the Kiwis back on track, though the new ball saw the Windies halt the hosts late – the former's middle stump knocked over by Gabriel.

Gabriel bowled straight through De Grandhomme during the final overs, the shiny new red ball proving too difficult for the New Zealand batsman to handle, leaving Tom Blundell (12 not out) and Neil Wagner (1 not out) in the middle at the close of play.