Hamish Rutherford of New Zealand New Zealand made light of bowler-friendly conditions on the opening morning of the first Test against the West Indies Tuesday, reaching 100 for one at lunch. The visitors won the toss in Dunedin and put New Zealand in to bat under overcast skies and with a green tinge to the University Oval wicket.
But despite favourable bowling conditions, New Zealand openers Hamish Rutherford and Peter Fulton were rarely troubled as they averaged more than four an over throughout most of the first session.
Rutherford, however, threw away a promising start when he was dismissed just before the break for 62, leaving Fulton unbeaten on 31 and Aaron Redmond on four.
Rutherford took just 60 deliveries to bring up his 50, cutting Darren Sammy to the ropes for his ninth boundary of the innings.
When the West Indies turned to spinner Shane Shillingford in the last half hour before the break, Rutherford took a six and a four off his third over.
But Shillingford exacted revenge in his next over when he had the New Zealand opener caught one-handed on the boundary by a leaping Narsingh Deonarine.
Redmond, recalled to the New Zealand team for the first time in five years following a thumb injury to Kane Williamson, faced just six balls before lunch, dispatching Sammy to the boundary with his one scoring stroke.
Shillingford, the only successful West Indies bowler, had figures of one for 13 off five overs while spearhead Tino Best had 0-19 off six.
Source: AFP