Dunedin, December 15:

Rain forced the abandonment of the final day’s play in the first Test between New Zealand and the West Indies, leaving the first of two matches to end in a draw.

New Zealand was due to resume their second innings at 44-2on Monday, leading overall by 69 runs after dismissing the West Indies for 340 in reply to their first innings of 365.

Light rain began to fall about an hour before the scheduled start and continued through the morning, forcing umpires to abandon play. Only one of the five days of the match was unaffected by weather or bad light.

The highlight of the match was a maiden Test century on the fourth day by West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor.

Taylor eclipsed his previous highest Test score of 31to reach his century from 97 deliveries. He was eventually out for 106 from 107 balls, after hitting 17 fours and three sixes.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori finished with his 18th five-wicket haul in a Test innings, taking 6-56. The top scorers in New Zealand’s first innings were Daniel Flynn with 95 and Jesse Ryder with 89.

The second Test at McLean Park in Napier begins on Friday.