A blistering start by Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum set New Zealand on their way to a nine-run victory on the Duckworth-Lewis method in the final one-day international against the West Indies in Napier.

Chasing 294 for victory, New Zealand had reached 211 for five when the rain - which has plagued the tour throughout - arrived at McLean Park and it was enough to hand the hosts the win and the series 2-1.

Ross Taylor was unbeaten on 48 and Grant Elliott was 14 not out when the match was called off with 15 overs remaining.

It was a disappointing but predictable end to a series that has been ruined by the weather. Two of the five matches were wash-outs, while all five failed to go the distance, although the conditions were not to blame in Wellington.

Before the rain arrived in Napier though, there was time to enjoy a superb century by West Indies skipper Chris Gayle who equalled Brian Lara's total of 19 one-day hundreds when he took a single off Grant Elliott in the 37th over of the West Indies reply.

The tall left-hander, who was eventually dismissed for 135 in his team's total of 293 for nine, also became the fourth West Indies player to score 7000 one-day runs.

He brought up that milestone in a Mark Gillespie over that also saw him hit a huge six out of McLean Park and into someone's backyard.

Gayle's 170-run partnership with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who fell six runs short of his 10th century, looked to have given the West Indies a fine chance of posting a 300 plus score.

But a late batting slump which saw them slip from 243 for three, when Gayle was caught by Ross Taylor off Kyle Mills, to 293 for nine in the last ball of their innings gave New Zealand a more achievable target.

New Zealand got off to the perfect start with Ryder - back after his one-match suspension - and McCullum on the front foot early as they smashed their way to 59 runs in under six overs.

But having walloped a huge six onto the roof of the stand, Ryder skied a Daren Powell delivery straight to Shawn Findlay to bring an end to his 23-ball innings of 21.

McCullum continued his high-octane knock, dishing out further punishment to Fidel Edwards, who conceded 46 runs in five overs, and Powell.

But Lionel Baker's introduction into the attack proved fruitful as McCullum walked down the wicket looking for another boundary only to send the ball straight to Findlay leaving New Zealand on 96 for two.

The wicketkeeper's quickfire 41 included six fours and a six off just 28 balls.

But Martin Guptill (45) was not so fortunate and his 39-ball innings was brought to an end when he edged behind to the wicketkeeper.

Daniel Flynn lasted just 34 balls before he was caught and bowled by Powell for 21 and the fast bowler struck again immediately, trapping Neil Broom leg before wicket for a duck, to leave New Zealand at 175 for five.

By the time the rain came Taylor and Grant Elliott had pushed that score out to 211 for five, giving them a nine-run advantage on the Duckworth-Lewis method, which proved to be enough.

Earlier, after being sent in to bat, the West Indies made a shaky start to their innings when Mills struck in the third over to remove Sewnarine Chattergoon for one and although Gillespie leaked a few runs, the tourists were largely kept in check.

Gayle and Sarwan added 72 runs before Sarwan top-edged to Elliott at fine leg to leave the West Indies 73 for two.

But that brought Chanderpaul to the crease and he and Gayle set about rebuilding the innings. The pair finally cut loose when they called for the third powerplay taking 57 runs off those five overs.

But the innings lost some momentum when Gayle bowed out going for one boundary too many.

By the time Chanderpaul was dismissed in the 47th over, trying another reverse sweep which he hit straight to Guptill, he had powered his way to 94 off 91 balls and hit a total of nine fours and a huge reverse sweep six.

But his dismissal, which left the West Indies on 279 for six, sparked a collapse and what could have been a 300 plus total came up short as the final three wickets fell in the last two overs.

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