HAMILTON, New Zealand (CMC) — A gallant 200-run partnership between Denesh Ramdin and Shivnarine Chanderpaul pulled West Indies out of a spectacular slump on the first day of their third and final test at Seddon Park Hamilton on Thursday.

Ramdin scored his fourth test hundred and Chanderpaul closed in on his 29th as West Indies recovered from 86 for five after lunch to reach 289 for six.

The tourists squandered a solid start of 77 for one in just 34 deliveries, losing four wickets for nine runs in less than 30 minutes of typical chaos after lunch.

Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell put on 41 for the first wicket before Powell, on 26, edged Neil Wagner to wicketkeeper BJ Watling.

Brathwaite, promoted to play his first Test in since 2011 after Darren Bravo was injured during practice, reached 45 before his dismissal soon after lunch started the top order collapse.

But Ramdin and Chanderpaul stunned New Zealand with a sixth-wicket salvage operation that lifted the score to respectability as the West Indies fight to win the Test in a bid to level the three-match series.

Ramdin was dismissed just before the close for 107 while Chanderpaul was not out 94, the two sharing a new West Indies sixth-wicket record of 200 for Tests in New Zealand, eclipsing 165 between Gordon Greenidge and Jeff Dujon 26 years ago.

Ramdin was dropped twice on 57 and 92 at midwicket and short cover, and Chanderpaul escaped with several airy nudges that just beat leg gully.

Corey Anderson was the most successful of the New Zealand bowlers with three for 25 off 14 overs.

New Zealand are playing the same team that won the second Test inside three days by an innings and 73 runs while the West Indies made three changes.

Sunil Narine replaced spinner Shane Shillingford, who has been suspended for an illegal bowling action, Braithwaite came in for the injured Bravo and Veerasammy Permaul took the place of Shannon Gabriel.

The first Test of the series was drawn.