Daniel Flynn ticked off one cricketing milestone and was closing in on another as he provided the backbone of the BLACKCAPS’ first innings at tea on day one of the first test against the West Indies at University Oval in Dunedin today.
The nuggety left-hander registered his maiden test half century shortly after lunch and at tea Flynn, batting at first drop for the first time in his debut test season, was eight runs shy of compiling his first test century.
The BLACKCAPS were a solid 180 for three entering the final session.
Jesse Ryder was alongside on 22 after Tim McIntosh and Ross Taylor were the architects of their own downfalls earlier in the middle session.
McIntosh's first test innings ended unnecessarily on 34 when his half-hearted shot off an innocuous Chris Gayle offbreak found Lionel Baker at wide mid on seven overs after the resumption.
The stroke was a rare blemish for the left-handed opener who needed 38 balls to get off the mark before scoring five boundaries during a stay spanning 110 deliveries.
Ross Taylor, after stroking consecutive boundaries off Jerome Taylor, produced an ugly swipe to Gayle -- succeeding only in skying a slog sweep to Xavier Marshall at short midwicket.
Taylor's dismissal for 15 left the BLACKCAPS at a potentially vulnerable 128 for three but Flynn and Ryder settled in to add a no frills 52 for the fourth wicket.
The BLACKCAPS had resumed at 88 for one after lunch, opener Jamie How (10) was the sole casualty in the opening session when he edged a loose drive to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at point to give Daren Powell compensation after the opener took two boundaries from his first over.
The four-pronged pace attack continued to toil in cool conditions but it was Gayle, the part time spinner, who gave the batsmen a false sense of security.
Flynn would not be drawn in however, and batted remorselessly after eclipsing his top score of 49 made against England at Nottinghamshire and Bangladesh in Chittagong earlier in his debut season.
He brought up his fifty with a single behind square, taking 77 deliveries to reach the landmark.
Flynn, playing the eighth test of his debut season, added another half dozen boundaries to the six he crafted in the morning session to extend his chanceless knock to 92 off 183 balls.
Gayle, the West Indian captain, was the pick of the bowlers, taking two for 29 off 15 overs.
NZPA
