An unbeaten century by the impenetrable Shivnarine Chanderpaul rescued the West Indies from a disastrous start to the second cricket Test against New Zealand in Napier on Friday.

At stumps the West Indies were 258 for six as Chanderpaul assisted by Brendon Nash engineered a remarkable fight-back after their top order had crumbled to 63 for four on a flat, batsmen-friendly McLean Park wicket.

Overall, New Zealand could claim the honours of the day after losing the toss and fighting back to take six wickets when the conditions were against the bowlers.

But the star of the show was undoubtedly Chanderpaul, who lived up to his billing as the world cricketer of the year as he and Nash staged a 163-run stand for the fifth wicket.

They came together just before lunch and remained at the crease until five overs from the close of play before Nash's gallant stand came to an end.

But Chanderpaul, in his 114th Test, remained rock-solid at the other end as he ended the day unbeaten on 100, his 20th Test-century.

Jerome Taylor, who scored his maiden Test century in the drawn first Test last week, was on one. Captain Chris Gayle had no hesitation in batting first when he won the toss and the West Indies moved briskly to 43 before running into trouble.

Gayle was the first to fall, edging Iain O'Brien to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, starting a slide that saw the West Indies lose four wickets for 31 runs in 16 overs.

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