Rain dampened New Zealand’s bid for victory in the first cricket Test against England as most of the final session was wiped out on the third day in Dunedin.
Just seven overs were possible after tea on Friday before rain forced the players off and bad light ensured the hosts didn’t get a chance to build on their first innings of 7-402.
It put New Zealand 235 runs ahead with two days remaining but lamenting the loss of 32 overs which would have been valuable in a Test already robbed of the entire first day due to rain.
Captain Brendon McCullum is not out 44 off 42 balls with Bruce Martin on 17.
The day belonged to opener Hamish Rutherford, whose freewheeling 171 was the seventh-highest Test score by any debut player.
He was the first of five dismissals in the second session as England looked more effective with the second new ball on a dull University Oval pitch.
However, a series of handy contributions from the middle order pushed the Test to a point where the tourists’ best possible result is a draw following their poor first innings of 167.
In plummeting temperatures, New Zealand added 130 runs in a middle session which began on a disappointing note when Rutherford spooned James Anderson to mid-wicket.
The 23-year-old was the ninth Black Caps’ debut centurion and his score was bettered only by Mathew Sinclair’s 214 against the West Indies in Wellington 14 years ago.
Compact left-hander Rutherford barely looked ruffled in a 217-ball knock that bristled with attacking intent, striking 22 fours and three sixes.
After resuming at 0-133, Peter Fulton fell for 55 – ending a 158-run opening stand which was New Zealand’s best for nine years.
Kane Williamson departed for 24 to leave New Zealand on 2-255 at lunch.
Ross Taylor reached 31, Doug Brownlie 27 and Tim Southee 25 in handy knocks, scored with enough speed to suggest the hosts were considering a late declaration on Friday.
Instead, that declaration will need to come early on the fourth day, with moisture having potentially added life to the wicket.
Anderson was the pick of the England bowlers, taking 4-108 off 29 overs.
The opening partnership was the 10th-highest in New Zealand Test history before Fulton nicked Anderson to tumbling wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
