West Indians Shivnarine Chanderpaul (left), Denesh Ramdin and Chris Gayle (right) with the trophy they shared with New Zealand after drawing the series on the fifth day of the second Test at McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand, yesterday. - AP

NAPIER, New Zealand (CMC)

The decisive second Test between New Zealand and West Indies finished in a tame draw here yesterday after neither team could produce the brilliance needed on the final day to carve out a result.

Set 312 to win after the West Indies were bowled out minutes before lunch for 375 at McLean Park, the Kiwi batsmen could not muster the sustained assaulted needed and could only reach 220 for five when play was called off with nine overs left in the day's play

Stalemate

Similarly, the West Indies bowlers were ragged and lacked the penetration necessary to eke out a victory and score their first series win over New Zealand in 12 years. The series finished drawn after the first Test in Dunedin last week also finished in a stalemate.

The match appeared poised for an interesting finish after West Indies, resuming at 278 for seven, added a further 97 in the first session, with captain Chris Gayle narrowly missing out on a double century with 197.

All told, he spent just over 8-1/2 hours at the crease, faced 396 balls and slammed 20 fours and seven sixes.

Daren Powell struck 22 from 37 balls with two fours and a six and Fidel Edwards occupied the crease for 86 balls in scoring 20 to spur the Windies to their eventual score.

Half-centuries from Jamie How (54) and Jesse Ryder (59 not out) then set up New Zealand nicely to mount a serious run pursuit in the final session, but Brendon McCullum's controversial dismissal signalled the end of all hostilities.

Set to explode

The hard-hitting wicketkeeper/batsman scored a near run-a-ball 19 with one four and a six and seemed set to explode when he was adjudged caught behind from an under-edge as he hit out at fast bowler Jerome Taylor.

McCullum instantly referred the decision to the third umpire Mark Benson but after several agonising minutes, the decision was upheld and the clearly aggrieved batsman was forced to depart.

His dismissal at 203 for five changed the whole tempo of the innings and with 17 runs trickling from the next 41 deliveries, the result was all but inevitable.

The game remained open at tea, thanks to How's attacking innings that needed just 65 balls and included eight fours.

After the Kiwis were set back by the early loss of first innings century-maker Tim McIntosh, lbw to fast Jerome Taylor for three, How posted 54 for the second wicket with Daniel Flynn who scored an enterprising 33 from 50 balls, including six fours.