DUNEDIN, New Zealand (CMC):

West Indies captain Chris Gayle says his side will take the positives from the rain-affected drawn Test into the second match starting later this week, in an attempt to clinch the series decider.

The first Test against New Zealand at the University Oval finished in a tame draw, after the final day was washed out yesterday. The second day was also lost to rain along with a few hours of the third day.

"Overall, I am happy with the way we played in this match. It was cold and we had a lot of rain, but we adapted well and had some very good performances," Gayle said. "There is always room for improvement and we will be looking for improvement in all departments. We will be back in business in Napier in a few days and we will be looking for a win in that match. We expect better weather conditions."

West Indies will face the Black Caps in the final Test of the two-match series on Friday (Thursday, Eastern Caribbean time) at McLean Park in Napier. The regional side is chasing its first series win against New Zealand in 12 years.

Under pressure

Batting first in the opening Test, New Zealand made 365 in their first innings and West Indies found themselves under pressure at 173 for six before recovering to reach 340.

The regional side owed their turnaround to the heroics of fast bowler Jerome Taylor, who slammed an amazing 106, his maiden Test century and highest-ever first-class score.

He faced a mere 107 balls and slammed 17 fours and three sixes in a 153-run, seventh wicket stand with Shivnarine Chander-paul who hit 76.

"I am really happy for Jerome. He batted extremely well and proved what we have known all along - that he has the ability to make big scores," said Gayle, who scored 74 at the top of the order. "People call him a tail-ender but we have seen him bat for Jamaica and the West Indies and we knew he had the ability to play the way he did."

Chanderpaul also chalked up another landmark when he overtook the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers to go third on the all-time list of West Indies batsmen with 8,077 runs.