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AUCKLAND, March 9 (AFP): Scott Styris starred for New Zealand Thursday, backing up an unbeaten century with two wickets in three balls to even the honours on the opening day of the first Test against the West Indies.
Styris joined Nathan Astle to pull New Zealand out of the mire when they were four for 69 and helped them to a respectable 275.
Then, when the West Indies were 47 without loss, it was Styris who joined Chris Martin in a lethal nine-ball spell which saw three wickets fall for just three runs.
At stumps the West Indies were 51 for three with Ramnaresh Sarwan on three and master batsman Brian Lara yet to score. The intended nightwatchman Ian Bradshaw was out for nought.
The New Zealand innings was salvaged by 103 not out from Styris, his fifth Test century, and 51 from Astle, with the next highest score coming from 26 extras.
Astle wrested the momentum back for New Zealand as he raced to 51 in quick time after lunch. He then became a victim of his expansive style when an attempted drive off Dwayne Smith saw an edge fly to the safe hands of Denesh Ramdin.
With only last man Chris Martin for company Styris blasted 14 runs and reached his century with a cover drive to the boundary before Martin was out without scoring.
Smith, with three for 71, and Bradshaw who took three for 73, shared the bowling honours.
Chris Gayle, who had been out of sorts in the recent one-day series which New Zealand dominated, looked more at home in his Test whites as he and Daren Ganga saw off New Zealand's opening bowlers.
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