DUNEDIN, New Zealand (CMC):

Rain forced play on the fifth and final day to be abandoned without a ball being bowled, to force a draw in the opening Test between New Zealand and the West Indies yesterday.

New Zealand, leading by 25 runs on first innings, were set to continue from 44 for two in their second innings with Tim McIntosh not out on 24 and Daniel Flynn not out on four.

But the drizzle started at University Oval about an hour before the scheduled start at 11:30 a.m. local time (6:30 p.m. Sunday - East Caribbean Time) and continued throughout the afternoon.

2-1/2 hours

Umpires Mark Benson and Amiesh Saheba decided to put the players out of their misery of sitting and waiting after about two and a half hours at the time appointed for lunch.

The Test had been dogged by the weather since it opened on Thursday.

Bad light had stopped play 16.4 overs early on the first day, Friday's second day was washed out without a ball being bowled and Saturday's third day started three-and-a-quarter hours later than scheduled.

On Sunday's penultimate day, the only day on which the weather cooperated and allowed the first full day of cricket in the match, Jerome Taylor fashioned a stunning, maiden Test and first-class hundred.

Taylor led a West Indies recovery with a stroke-filled 106, as the visitors were dismissed for 340, replying to New Zealand's first innings total of 365. His innings earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.

The Dunedin Test was the first of two, with the second scheduled to start in Napier on Friday.

The West Indies are seeking their first Test win and series victory in New Zealand in a dozen years.

SCOREBOARD

NEW ZEALAND 1st Innings 365

(D. Flynn 95; C. Gayle 3-42)

WEST INDIES 1st Innings 340

(J. Taylor 106; D. Vettori 6-56)

NEW ZEALAND 2nd Innings

(overnight 44 for two)

T. McIntosh not out 24

J. How b Powell 10

K. Mills b Powell 0

D. Flynn not out 4

Extras (b4, lb1, nb1) 6

TOTAL (2 wkts) 44

Fall of wickets: 1-33 (How), 2-33 (Mills)

Bowling: Edwards 5-0-22-0; Powell 5-0-17-2 (nb1)

Result: Match drawn.

Series: Two-Test series level 0-0.

Umpires: M. Benson, Amiesh Saheba, TV Replays: R. Koertzen, Reserve: A. Hill

Match Referee: Javagal Srinath.

Man-of-the-Match: Jerome Taylor (West Indies).