Chanderpaul chalks up another ton

Shivnarine Chanderpaul was on hand to dig West Indies out of a hole again in Napier

A century from the incomparable Shivnarine Chanderpaul sparked a fightback by West Indies on the opening day of the second Test against New Zealand.

Having been reduced to 74 for four just prior to lunch, Chanderpaul and Brendan Nash (74) constructed a patient 163-run stand, ended when Nash drove James Franklin straight to Daniel Flynn.

The Black Caps took another wicket in the penultimate over of the day, when Denesh Ramdin was bowled by Daniel Vettori, to leave West Indies 258 for six at stumps in Napier.

Chanderpaul and Nash both brought up half-centuries early in the final session.

Chanderpaul, the ICC player of the year, had taken 147 balls to bring up his half-century but cut loose late in the day to bring up the second fifty in just 67 deliveries, as he reached on an even 100 not out, with Jerome Taylor unbeaten on one.

Captain Chris Gayle would have been disappointed with his top order after winning the toss and opting to bat on a good wicket.

They lost wickets regularly in the first session, with Iain O’Brien taking 2-15, and spinners Jeetan Patel and Vettori chipping in with one apiece.

Gayle (34) was the first to go, edging O’Brien to Brendon McCullum.

Three overs later Ramnaresh Sarwan attempted a cut shot off spinner Jeetan Patel but offered McCullum his second catch.

O'Brien accounted for Xavier Marshall, caught by Jesse Ryder at slip, to reduce the tourists to 63 for three.

Brendan Nash cuts in his maiden Test fifty for West Indies since emigrating from Australia

Jamie How then took a smart catch above his head at second slip to dismiss opener Sewnarine Chattergoon.

Again the left-hander never really looked comfortable at the crease, taking 72 balls for his 13 runs.

At lunch the Windies were 74 for four with Chanderpaul on seven and Nash yet to score but the fifth-wicket partnership steadied the innings, showing plenty of patience in the middle session as New Zealand turned to economical bowling from Patel and Kyle Mills.

Mills bowled consecutive maiden overs and by tea the West Indies were 154 for four with Chanderpaul on 44 and Nash on 34, the pair having added 80.

They upped the tempo in the final session of the day. Nash, born in Western Australia of Jamaican parents, was first to reach 50, his first in Test cricket, with a cut over the slips, his 10th boundary.

His 162-ball innings was peppered with some lovely cut shots and drives down the ground, but he was eventually undone by a loose shot as Franklin made the breakthrough.

The final half-hour of play brought saw Chanderpaul reach three figures, his 20th Test century, before Ramdin was bowled by Vettori to leave the Test finely poised.

Patel had a fine day with ball, finishing with 1-41 off 25 overs that included 11 maidens, while Mills bowled tightly for his figures of 0-29.