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Taupo, New Zealand - Shivnarine Chanderpaul, with a polished 116, and Ricardo Powell, serving immediate notice of his exciting potential with 68, put together an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 111 as the West Indies made a satisfying start to the opening first-class match of their New Zealand tour here yesterday.

Powell, however, was unable to complete his hundred, falling for 86 to a catch at mid-off after adding 18 off 23 balls.

West Indies had reached 332 for four just before lunch on the second day with Chanderpaul on 139 and captain Jimmy Adams 21.

The West Indies were 266 for three at the end of the first day of three against New Zealand ?A? at Owen Delaney Park in the North Island tourist town of Taupo, with its nearby lake and backdrop of snow capped, active volcano.

Batting at No. 3, a possible prelude to the order for the two Tests later this month, the left-handed Chanderpaul was rarely troubled by an attack comprising bowlers on the fringe of the New Zealand Test team.

He came in 20 minutes before lunch when opener Daren Ganga was run out by Matthew Sinclair?s direct throw from mid-on for a confident 28.

He soon passed the other opener, left-hander Adrian Griffith, and required only 67 balls to pass his 50 before decelerating to reach his century off 175 balls with his finest stroke, a cover-drive for his 15th four. He added two more boundaries before the close.

The careworn Griffith spent 2-1/2 hours and 109 balls over 25 before he edged a catch to the wicket-keeper. He was attempting a forcing backfoot stroke off off-spinner Paul Wiseman, a Test cap and the home team?s best bowler.

Chanderpaul dominated a third-wicket stand of 65 with another left-hander, Wavell Hinds, that was also ended by Wiseman through a bat-pad catch at silly point.

Powell?s reputation as a powerful strokeplayer preceded him to New Zealand and he showed glimpses of his talent with 42 in the opening Super Max International against New Zealand in Christchurch on Friday.

He was again in free-scoring mood, gathering 52 of his runs in boundaries through two sixes and ten fours. As he took over, Chanderpaul wisely bided his time, scoring only 11 in the hour after tea.

The New Zealand seam bowlers, Andy Penn, Chris Drum and Steve Styris, are all in line for selection for the Test series with the unavailability of Geoff Allott and Simon Doull and the doubt over Dion Nash through injury.

All went wicketless and sent down too many wayward deliveries on an easy-paced pitch in clear, sunny weather. The spin came from Wiseman and leg-spinner Brooke Walker.

West Indies omitted Brian Lara, opener Sherwin Campbell and fast bowlers Franklyn Rose, Reon King and Pedro Collins.

© The Barbados Nation