Opener Martin Guptill made an unbeaten 122 _ the second-highest score by a debutant in a one-day international _ before rain washed out the fourth one-dayer between New Zealand and the West Indies on Saturday.
Guptill carried his bat through New Zealand's innings of 275-4, reaching the highest one-day score by a New Zealander against the West Indies and only behind retired West Indies opener Desmond Haynes for the highest total by a debutant in international limited-overs history. Haynes made 148 against Australia 31 years ago.
Fortunately for Guptill, although the match was abandoned with no result, individual statistics do count.
The Auckland right-hander shared partnerships of 68 for the first wicket with Brendon McCullum (26), 144 for the third wicket with Ross Taylor (75) and an unbroken 56 for the fifth wicket with fellow debutant Neil Broom, who smashed 24 from 17 balls.
His efforts aside, the West Indies were on early course to overhaul the total, but rain twice intervened before the match was abandoned with the West Indies 64-0.
The West Indies were 47-0 when rain first began to fall, reducing their target to 235 from 40 overs, but only 11 more balls were bowled and 17 runs scored before heavier showers forced the abandonment.
The match followed the soggy trend of the series. The first match in Queenstown was abandoned because of rain and the second in Christchurch, won by the West Indies, was reduced to 28 overs per side.
New Zealand won the third match at Wellington by seven wickets and the final match in Napier on Wednesday will now decide the series, weather permitting.
Guptill's innings of 201 minutes and 125 balls, including eight fours and two sixes, eclipsed Nathan Astle's 115 as the highest score by a New Zealander against the West Indies. He surpassed a host of legendary cricketing names before finishing with the highest unbeaten innings on debut in a one-day international.
Only four other players have scored a century on debut in a limited-overs international.
Guptill gave chances early in his innings, notably to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin off Daren Powell when he was 15 and to Brendan Nash at cover point when he was 21 but then settled to play a commanding innings.
He reached his century with a six off West Indian captain Chris Gayle and helped New Zealand accelerate its scoring, particularly in his bright partnership with Broom, in the closing overs.
Gayle gave the West Indies an impressive start in pursuit of New Zealand's total, hitting four fours and three sixes in an innings of 46 from 37 balls.
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