A hobbling Daryl Mitchell struck his seventh one-day international century as New Zealand posted 269-7 Sunday, in the opening game of the three-match series against the West Indies.

Batting in discomfort with a groin injury, Mitchell scored 119 before his dismissal in the final over, having dominated the home side's innings after a sluggish start in Christchurch.

New Zealand were asked to bat and lost the wickets of Rachin Ravindra and Will Young in successive balls from Matthew Forde to be 24-2.

Opener Devon Conway scored 49 but their remaining specialist batsmen struggled for timing aside from Mitchell, the world's third-ranked batsman in the 50-over format.

The 34-year-old was careful in the early stages before unleashing late on, striking many of his 12 fours and two sixes to the leg side boundary.

Mitchell grimaced at times running between the wickets, favouring an injury which appeared to affect him throughout much of his 118-ball stay at Hagley Oval.

He unleashed a powerful pull off seamer Jayden Seales to raise his century in the 46th over but later fell to the same bowler, caught in the deep attempting a similar shot.

Seales handed Mitchell a let-off when he was on 67, dropping a relatively simple chance at long on.

Seales was the most successful West Indies bowler, taking 3-41.

Romario Shepherd only bowled four overs before being forced from the field with a hamstring complaint

Fellow-seamer Shamar Springer was handed an ODI debut and finished with 0-59 off his nine overs.

New Zealand won the preceding five-match T20 series 3-1.