Half-centuries to openers Hamish Rutherford and Peter Fulton have put New Zealand in control at tea on the opening day of the first Test against the West Indies at the University Oval in Dunedin.

Rutherford made a rapid 62 while Fulton was more sedate in making 61 as the Black Caps reached 3-194 at the interval.

Ross Taylor was unbeaten on 39 and captain Brendon McCullum had six.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat, New Zealand’s batsmen began the series in positive fashion, scoring at almost five runs an over at times to take toll of some wayward West Indies bowling.

Rutherford, batting on the ground where he made 171 on debut, raced to 62 before falling just before the lunch break five short of a century opening stand.

After smashing offspinner Shane Shillingford for six in the previous over, he tried to repeat the feat but Narsingh Deonarine, backpedalling at a rate of knots, pulled off a stunning one-handed catch to end his bright innings.

West Indies opted to play Shillingford despite his action coming under scrutiny by the ICC and his dismissal of Rutherford ended a 83-ball stay which featured 10 fours and a six.

Shillingford, who went for 10 off one over, was the pick of the bowlers with 1-31 from 15 otherwise tight overs.

New Zealand went to lunch on 1-100 and the recalled Aaron Redmond, playing his first Test in five years, looked in fine touch hitting three boundaries in reaching 20 before he edged a Tino Best delivery to gully.

Best, after a disappointing opening spell, bowled with sustained hostility in a seven-over stint after lunch and caught the handle of Ross Taylor’s bat only for the ball to evade the slips cordon.

He received an official warning from umpire Nigel Llong for running on the pitch at the end of his spell.

Fulton edged Darren Sammy to second slip to end his 228-minute vigil.

The big right-hander now has 590 runs this year at an average a touch over 45.