Windies set solid foundation

West Indies captain Chris Gayle helps his side make a positive start to their reply

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West Indies openers Chris Gayle and Sewnarine Chattergoon came through a difficult hour to reach 39 without loss in reply to New Zealand’s 365 all out in the rain-affected first Test in Dunedin.

After bowling the hosts out midway through the final session, Gayle and Chattergoon then negotiated a difficult 14 overs - at times in fading light - with Chattergoon surviving an lbw referral to third umpire Rudi Koertzen to reach nine not out, with his skipper unbeaten on 29 at the close.

With bad light halting play early on day one, no play at all on day two because of rain and a delayed start to the third day because of a wet outfield, almost 130 overs have been lost in the match at University Oval and the most likely outcome now is a draw.

When play did resume with New Zealand 226 for four, West Indies gained the early advantage claiming three key wickets - Brendon McCullum, James Franklin and Jesse Ryder - before tea after taking the new ball.

McCullum added 21 to his overnight score of four before edging to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin off a Jerome Taylor outswinger.

Franklin went for seven in what was the most bizarre dismissal of the day, the all-rounder slipping over and knocking the bails off after guiding a ball from a fired-up Fidel Edwards to the boundary.

That left New Zealand 290 for six, which became 310 for seven as Ryder, who converted his overnight 54 into a sometimes fortuitous 95, picked out Chanderpaul at square-leg when Daren Powell was brought back into the attack in the penultimate over before tea.

Captain Daniel Vettori became Powell’s second victim when he was caught at deep point by Xavier Marshall for 30.

Mark Gillespie endured a nervous wait when the tourists referred another decision to Koertzen, appealing for a caught behind which was turned down.

Kyle Mills was not so lucky when Gayle called for another referral, the third umpire adjudging the tailender leg before to Edwards for 12.

The New Zealand innings was wrapped up when Iain O’Brien finally succumbed to the barrage of short-pitched bowling by Edwards to be caught and bowled by the fast bowler, who finished with 3-91 off 22 overs.

Powell was arguably the pick of the West Indies’ attack as he finished with 3-68 off 24 overs.