(CMC):

West Indies made a grim start to their trip to New Zealand, when Auckland Aces captain Richard Jones battered his 13th first-class hundred to help his side dominate the three-day tour match yesterday.

West Indies could hardly keep a lid on Jones and he crafted an undefeated 186 - two short of his best first-class score - to lead Auckland to 359 for two in their first innings when stumps were drawn on the opening day.

The match is the only warm-up for West Indies before the first of two Tests against the New Zealand Black Caps, starting at Dunedin's Uni-versity Oval next Thursday.

Bowlers omitted

But West Indies still chose to leave key fast bowlers Jerome Taylor and Daren Powell in the cotton wool and this was an invitation for Jones to cut loose, after Auckland chose to bat on a hard, true Eden Park Outer Oval pitch.

The West Indies attack comprised mainly Fidel Edwards, Kemar Roach, Lionel Baker, and beanpole left-arm spin bowler Sulieman Benn, but they were not helped by the narrow boundaries after the start of play was delayed by half-hour due to drizzling rain.

Edwards made an early break-through, but West Indies were put under severe pressure by Jones. The 35-year-old, who has played one Test and five One-day Internationals for the Black Caps, struck 25 fours and three sixes from 295 balls in a little under six hours.

No West Indies bowler was spared punishment, as he featured in successive 100-run partnerships with Tim McIntosh and Reece Young.

Edwards had opener Martin Guptill caught at second slip for 10 in the third over of the day, but the Oval has been a haven for batsmen this season, with last week's domestic State Championship match between Auckland and Wellington producing 974 runs for the loss of just 12 wickets, despite it being reduced to a three-day affair due to rain.

Docile pitch

West Indies soon had first-hand knowledge about the docile nature of the pitch, as Jones shared 223 for the second wicket with McIntosh and has so far added 125 - unbroken - with Young to put the Aces in a commanding position.

The visitors knew they were looking at a long, hard day of chasing leather, when Jones and McIntosh carried Auckland to 134 for one at the lunch interval. But Lionel Baker spoiled McIntosh's party, when he had the tall Auckland left-handed opener caught behind for 78 about 15 minutes before tea.