NAPIER, New Zealand (CMC):

Chris Gayle slammed a splendid century but rain, wayward bowling and a costly umpiring error, helped New Zealand clinch the one-day international (ODI) series here, with a nine-run win over West Indies under the Duckworth/Lewis Method yesterday.

Chasing 294 for victory in the decisive fifth match, New Zealand had reached 211 for five after 36 overs when rain swept across McLean Park at 7 p.m. (2 a.m. eastern Caribbean time), effectively ending the contest and handing them a 2-1 series triumph.

It was the fourth match in the series to be affected by rain, with the first one in Queenstown and the fourth in Eden Park abandoned as no-results because of the adverse weather.

The Christchurch ODI was reduced to 28 overs because of rain, while the Wellington match was the only one to escape unscathed. Gayle's 19th ODI century, an attacking 135 off 129 balls, along with Shivnarine Chanderpaul's 94, had put West Indies on course for victory, but senseless bowling early on coupled with a mistake by umpire Tony Hill, put New Zealand on top before rain did the rest.

Needing a strong start by their bowlers, West Indies shockingly conceded 40 runs from three overs at the top of the innings, as fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Daren Powell opted for recklessness instead of prudence, producing a steady diet of loose, short deliveries.

There were no complaints from the Kiwi openers as Brendon McCullum stroked 41 from 28 balls and Jesse Ryder, 21 from 23 balls, to get the hosts off to a flier with a robust 59-run stand off just 33 deliveries.

The Windies' cause was not helped by umpire Hill, who ruled Ross Taylor not out after the batsman clipped a leg-side catch to Denesh Ramdin when he had reached 12, with the Kiwis 121 for two in the 16th over.

Shared wicket stand

Taylor made the most of his good fortune to top score with an unbeaten 48 from 71 balls and shared a pivotal 36-run, sixth-wicket stand off 38 balls with Grant Elliott, who was not out on 14 from 17 balls.

The right-handed Taylor lived a charmed life, escaping again on 27 when Kieron Pollard missed a straightforward run out chance, as New Zealand advanced at 167 for three in the 27th over.

Martin Guptill, who pounded a century on debut in the fourth ODI last week, impressed again with 43 from 39 deliveries and added another 42 for the third wicket with Taylor, to sustain his side's early momentum.

At 175 for three in the 20th over, West Indies seemed out of the contest, but Powell, who finished with three for 66, claimed two wickets in as many balls with rain threatening, to toss the game wide open.

Daniel Flynn scored 21 before his attempted pull gave Powell an easy caught and bowl chance, while Neil Broom, in only his second match, was trapped on the crease by a full-length delivery and adjudged lbw without scoring.

Behind on the Duckworth/Lewis Method at 190 for five after 33 overs, New Zealand summoned their power play and Taylor twice drove rookie pacer Lionel Baker for fours in the first over, which cost 15 runs, as the Kiwis gleefully got their noses in front at the rain break.

CATALYST

Earlier, Gayle and Chanderpaul shared a third wicket stand of 170 that proved the catalyst behind the Windies innings after they were sent in.

Missed in the slips by Ryder when 14 with West Indies on 22 for one in the seventh over, Gayle proceeded to hammer nine fours and five sixes in a splendid innings of power-hitting.

Chanderpaul, whose first 26 runs required 54 balls and did not contain a single boundary, accelerated to count nine fours and a six off just 91 balls. When the duo was dismissed, however, West Indies lost five wickets for 21 runs in the space of 25 balls at the end, to fall short of the 300-run mark.

The Black Caps admirably hauled themselves back into the game through medium pacers Mark Gillespie (4-58) and Kyle Mills (3-57), who bowled impressively at the death.

Gayle and Chanderpaul took centre stage after the tourists had crawled to 73 for two in the 17th over, following the loss of Sewnarine Chattergoon (1) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (22).

Start of hostilities

A power play, taken by West Indies at the end of the 34th over, signalled the start of hostilities. The tourists were then 136 for two with Gayle on 85 and Chanderpaul, 26 and they tore delightfully into the Kiwis attack as the five-over period yielded 57 runs and set the Windies merrily on their way.

Only six runs came from the first power play over, but 11 came from the next as Gayle capitalised on full-length deliveries from pacer Tim Southee to gather two boundaries. In contrast, he reached his century in the next over off 110 balls with a quiet single off medium pacer Elliott.

Southee's next over cost 15 as Chanderpaul joined in the run spree, smashing the bowler for boundaries as West Indies raced to 177 for two. Elliott came under fire in the very next over which cost 16, with Chanderpaul finding the extra-cover boundary via the aerial route and Gayle powerfully smashing a four and six straight overhead.

When captain Daniel Vettori returned with his left-arm spin at the end of the power play, Chanderpaul utilised the reverse sweep with devastating effect, to collect successive boundaries and further increase the tempo.