Kiwis quick off the mark to seal series

Brendon McCullum sets New Zealand in motion by powering his way to 41 off only 28 deliveries

A blistering start by Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum set New Zealand on their way to a nine-run victory under the Duckworth-Lewis method in the final one-day international against West Indies.

Chasing 294 to win, New Zealand had reached an above-par 211 for five when the rain arrived at McLean Park in Napier, enough to secure a 2-1 triumph.

Ross Taylor was unbeaten on 48 and Grant Elliott 14 not out when the match was called off with 15 overs remaining.

It was a disappointing but somewhat predictable end to a series that has been blighted by the weather. Two of the five matches were wash-outs, while all failed to go the distance, although conditions were not to blame in Wellington.

Before the rain arrived here, though, there was time to enjoy a superb century from West Indies skipper Chris Gayle, who equalled Brian Lara’s total of 19 one-day hundreds.

The left-handed opener, who contributed 135 to a total of 293 for nine, also became the fourth West Indian to score 7,000 one-day runs.

He brought up that milestone in a Mark Gillespie over that saw him hit a huge six out of the ground and into someone’s back yard.

Gayle’s 170-run partnership with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who fell six runs short of a century, looked to have given West Indies a fine chance of passing 300.

But they failed to build on a promising position of 243 for three, and were put under immediate pressure with the ball as Ryder and McCullum launched a New Zealand counter-attack.

The Kiwis got off to the perfect start with Ryder - back after a one-match suspension for drinking - and McCullum adding 59 in under six overs.

Chris Gayle flicks the ball off his legs during his sensational innings of 135 for West Indies

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Having struck a huge six on to the roof of the stand, Ryder skied Daren Powell to Shawn Findlay to bring an end to his 23-ball 21.

McCullum continued his high-octane innings, dishing out further punishment to Fidel Edwards, who conceded 46 runs in five overs, and Powell.

But Lionel Baker’s introduction into the attack proved fruitful as McCullum, advancing down the pitch, found only Findlay. He had made 41 off just 28 deliveries.

Martin Guptill, who hit a century on debut in Auckland in the previous match, again impressed by making 43, but he edged Kieron Pollard behind before Daniel Flynn was caught and bowled by Powell for 21.

The fast bowler struck again immediately, trapping Neil Broom leg before without scoring to reduce New Zealand to 175 for five.

However, Taylor and Elliott responded in aggressive fashion, boosting the run-rate sufficiently to ensure the Black Caps were ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis requirements when the rain arrived.

Earlier, West Indies made a shaky start to their innings when Kyle Mills struck in the third over to remove Sewnarine Chattergoon.

Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan added 72 before the latter top-edged Mark Gillespie to Elliott at fine-leg, but that brought Chanderpaul to the crease.

He and Gayle set about rebuilding the innings, then cut loose when they called for the third powerplay, taking 57 off five riotous overs.

The innings lost momentum when Gayle swung Mills to Taylor on the midwicket boundary - he had faced 129 balls and struck nine fours and five sixes - while Chanderpaul departed in the 47th over, attempting a reverse-sweep.

His dismissal came amid a collapse that saw New Zealand slip from 272 for four, and included the loss of three wickets in the last two overs.