West Indies openers came through a difficult hour to reach 39 without loss in reply to New Zealand's 365 all out in the Test.

After dismissing the hosts midway through the final session, Gayle and Chattergoon then negotiated a difficult 14 overs - at times in fading light - with Chattergoon surviving an lbw referral to third umpire Rudi Koertzen to be nine not out with his West Indies skipper unbeaten on 29 at the close.

With bad light halting play early on day one, no play at all on day two because of rain and a delayed start to the third day because of a wet outfield, almost 130 overs have been lost in the match at University Oval and the most likely outcome now is a draw.

When play did resume with New Zealand on 226 for four, West Indies gained the early advantage claiming three key wickets - Brendon McCullum, James Franklin and Jesse Ryder - before tea after taking the new ball.

There was disappointment for Ryder, who began the day on 54, when he became the second player to fall short of his maiden Test century after Daniel Flynn's dismissal for 95 on the opening day, following a referral to Koertzen under a new challenge system being trialled.

Ryder's demise for 89 was far more straightforward with the big-hitting left-hander firing one straight to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at square leg shortly before tea after earlier being the subject of an unsuccessful referral by West Indies then being dropped by Chattergoon.

McCullum added 21 to his overnight score of four before edging to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin off a Jerome Taylor delivery, which had a hint of away swing, to be the first wicket to fall.

Then Ryder had his lucky escape when on 79 during a fiery over by Fidel Edwards, who also hit all-rounder Franklin - back in the Test arena after 18 months out recovery from a serious knee injury - in the ribs.

Franklin eventually went for seven in what was by far the most bizarre dismissal of the day, the all-rounder slipping over and knocking the bails off after guiding a ball from a fired-up Edwards to the boundary.

That left New Zealand on 290 for six which then became 310 for seven as Ryder picked out Chanderpaul when Daren Powell was re-introduced to the attack in the penultimate over before tea.

Captain Daniel Vettori became Powell's second victim when he was caught at deep point by Xavier Marshall for 30.

Mark Gillespie then endured a nervous wait when the tourists referred another decision to Koertzen, appealing for a caught behind which wasn't given.

Kyle Mills was not so lucky when Gayle called for another referral, the South African third umpire deciding the New Zealand tail-ender had been trapped lbw by Edwards for 12, leaving the hosts on 347 for nine.

The New Zealand innings was wrapped up when Iain O'Brien finally succumbed to the barrage of short pitch bowling by Edwards to be caught and bowled by the fast bowler, who finished with figures of three for 91 off 22 overs.

Powell was probably the pick of West Indies' bowlers on day three as he finished with three wickets for 68 runs off 24 overs, while Gayle took his three wickets for 42 runs on the opening day.

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