An unbeaten century by the impenetrable Shivnarine Chanderpaul rescued the West Indies from a disastrous start to the second cricket Test against New Zealand here Friday. At stumps the West Indies was 258 for six as Chanderpaul assisted by Brendon Nash engineered a remarkable fight-back after its top order had crumbled to 63-4 on a flat, batsmen-friendly McLean Park wicket. Overall, New Zealand could claim the honors 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. Chanderpaul had one heart-stopping moment on 28 when New Zealand challenged a failed leg before wicket appeal from Kyle Mills but third umpire Mark Benson backed the original ruling that the ball would have cleared the stumps. The left-hander was untroubled from then and his century included three sixes, two off Vettori, and nine fours. O'Brien and Vettori were the pick of the New Zealand bowlers with two wickets apiece while Patel and Franklin claimed one each. The inclusion of Patel for fast bowler Mark Gillespie is the only change to the New Zealand side from the first Test. The West Indies also made one change to their line-up, bringing in left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn for pace bowler Lionel Baker. All-rounder Ewen Thompson was, meanwhile, the only new face named in New Zealand's 13-man squad for two Twenty20 matches against the West Indies this month. Thompson, 29, has taken 16 wickets at an average of 17 and an economy rate of 6.97 playing for Central Districts.
