Shivnarine Chanderpaul and an equally-circumspect Brendan Nash set about rebuilding the West Indies innings on the first day of the second cricket test against New Zealand at McLean Park here today.
Resuming at a parlous 74 for four after lunch, the duo added a patient 80 runs for
the fifth wicket off 33.2 overs to lift their team to 154 for four by tea.
Chanderpaul, who averages a remarkable 103.15 in tests since December 2006, was closing in on his 51st test half century on 44 while Australian-born Nash, in just his second test, provided able support with 34 from 101 balls.
The pair were rarely troubled as Daniel Vettori rotated his six bowlers though Chanderpaul survived a minor scare when the New Zealand captain used one of his three umpiring referral challenges when seeking to have the West Indies key batsman removed leg before wicket.
Chanderpaul shouldered arms to Kyle Mills when on 28 but after one viewing of the replay, third umpire Mark Benson backed up Amish Saheba's original ruling that the ball would have cleared the stumps.
The superbly focused left-hander celebrated his reprieve with a rare show of aggression, slamming Vettori over the mid wicket fence before directing the spinner's next offering to the square leg boundary.
Chanderpaul struck another four boundaries in his 134-ball vigil.
Jeetan Patel, who had one for 10 from 11 overs at lunch, maintained his accuracy after the resumption, at one stage delivering four consecutive maidens, lodging figures of one for 22 from 20 overs.
The West Indies lost four for 31 in the morning session.
Captain Chris Gayle started the slide when he was caught behind to seamer Iain O'Brien's first delivery.
Ramnaresh Sarwan scored 11, Xavier Marshall six and Sewnarine Chattergoon 13 in the opening session as New Zealand made early inroads despite perfect batting conditions.
O'Brien had the best figures of two for 30 heading into the final session.
- NZPA
