A soft outfield, frigid temperatures, kitty litter and a wagging tail combined to frustrate the West Indies as a weather-affected first cricket test against New Zealand appeared headed for a draw at University Oval.
There were few heart warming moments for the tourists as New Zealand batted themselves into what should be an impregnable position given the time already lost to bad light and rain.
New Zealand grafted from 226 for four to 365 all out in their first innings after more than three hours were lost while ground staff sought to make the sodden outfield playable.
At stumps on the third day the West Indies had survived 14 tricky overs to be 39 without loss, with captain Chris Gayle on 29 and Sewnarine Chattergoon on nine.
Once play resumed today for the first time since Thursday, Jesse Ryder became the focal point before he joined Daniel Flynn in succumbing close to a maiden test century.
While Flynn was adjudged leg before wicket for 95 on the first day, Ryder largely inflicted his own downfall when on 89.
Resuming today on 54, Ryder could not fully capitalise after Chattergoon spilled a regulation edge at second slip when the left-hander was on 80.
Fidel Edwards was the unlucky bowler but he did succeed in unsettling the New Zealand middle order when handed the second new ball.
He rattled Brendon McCullum and James Franklin before indulging in a war of words with tailender Iain O'Brien as he finished with figures of three for 91.
That was not the most economical analysis but he did cause plenty of uncertainty among the home side's batting lineup.
Fellow quick Jerome Taylor was the beneficiary when McCullum edged to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin for 25 but Franklin was Edwards' own work after he hit the allrounder in the ribs when on four.
Distracted by the blow, Franklin reached seven then trod on his stumps while attempting to spar another short ball down the leg side.
He was unable to open the bowling as planned but should be in action tomorrow.
Ryder lost his momentum when McCullum and Franklin departed in quick succession and fell three balls after Edwards was spelled for Daren Powell.
In the penultimate over before tea, he miscued a pull directly to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at square leg.
Ryder struck a dozen boundaries in his 157-ball knock that ended two short of his highest test score made against Bangladesh in October.
"I'm fuming after missing out again, to throw it away like that I'm pretty angry," he said, before crediting Edwards' impact.
"Fidel had a plan. He wanted to tuck us up and bounce us. Fair play to him, he bowled a pretty good spell."
Ryder departed at 310 for seven but the tail added another 55 runs through Daniel Vettori, who made 30, Mark Gillespie 16 not out and Kyle Mills 12.
Despite the best endeavours of the players the elements have seemingly consigned this test to a draw.
Bad light shortened the first day by 16.4 overs while 90 were lost yesterday and only 42.4 off a maximum 67 were delivered today in bitterly cold conditions.
Once play did resume after lunch there was a curious 10-minute delay while the tourists insisted the ground staff sweep up kitty litter -- a substitute for sawdust -- that had been sprinkled on damp parts of the ground and the bowler's run-up.
Ryder was suspicious of the delaying tactic.
"I guess that was just their way of saying we don't want to play," he said.
"In the end they had to, the poor groundsman had to come out and clean it up."
NZPA
