CricketHamish Rutherford's century on his debut helped New Zealand to a 235-run first innings lead over England yesterday before rain and fading light stopped them from extending their advantage by cutting short the third day of the first Test at Dunedin.

Rutherford scored a dynamic 171, the second highest score by a New Zealander in his first Test, to help the hosts reach 402 for seven in reply to England’s 167 when play was stopped about 20 minutes into the third and final session.

The umpires decided the light mist that had been drifting across University Oval for 45 minutes was too bad to continue. New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who was unbeaten on 45, and Bruce Martin, who had made 17, will resume their promising 32-run partnership on day four.

With the entire first day having been washed out but the pitch still a good batting surface, the hosts probably need some time to try and bowl out the much vaunted England lineup for a second time.

Rutherford became the ninth New Zealander to score a century on debut before England’s bowlers wrested back some of the advantage they had ceded with five wickets falling in the second session. He added just four runs to his lunch score of 167 when he popped a catch to substitute fielder Chris Woakes off James Anderson