BLACKCAPS batsman Daniel Flynn justified his promotion by carrying out his job description at University Oval in the first cricket test against the West Indies.
But Amish Saheba's discretionary powers ensured his first innings against the West Indies was a bittersweet experience today.
The BLACKCAPS were 226 for four at stumps on day one, a par score thanks chiefly to a career-best 95 from 188 balls from Flynn.
Jesse Ryder was unbeaten on 54 and McCullum, on four, will resume tomorrow, weather permitting.
Flynn was on the verge of compiling his maiden test hundred in the final session but instead became the first BLACKCAPS batsman given out after the opposition captain referred a declined leg before wicket appeal to the third umpire.
The nuggety left-hander was eventually adjudged out by South African Rudi Koertzen, who was asked to review replays after Chris Gayle's appeal was initially turned down by Saheba, the Indian standing in his first test.
Flynn's unique departure added an element of high drama to an intriguing opening day which ended 16.4 overs ahead of schedule when bad light allowed Ryder and McCullum to retreat to the pavilion an hour before stumps were expected to be drawn.
The opening day of the two-match series belonged to Flynn, the compact State Northern Knights' strokemaker who embraced his elevation to first drop for the first time in his first-class career.
Flynn, who made his debut at Lord's in May as a conservative middle order option, again showcased his gritty determination as he batted almost four hours to bind the notoriously fragile BLACKCAPS top order together.
He eclipsed his previous test best of 49 -- made against England and Bangladesh earlier in this, his debut season -- shortly after lunch and appeared on course to post three figures when poised on 92 at tea.
The International Cricket Council's trial of a referral system then came into play to thwart the 23-year-old, who was still satisfied with a chanceless innings studded with a dozen boundaries.
"To make a contribution like I did I'm happy," said Flynn, who has generally batted at six during his seven previous tests.
"I'm obviously disappointed not to have kicked on but it's a great opportunity for me to fill that spot at number three, to make it my own."
Flynn was at the crease in the seventh over after Jamie How departed for a run-a-ball 10 and shared in two critical stands -- 87 for the second wicket with debutant opener Tim McIntosh and a promising 54-run stand with Ryder before fate intervened.
McIntosh suggested he might be a potential answer at the top of the order with a patient 34 off 110 balls. He needed 38 deliveries to edge his first test run -- a streaky boundary over gully -- but looked otherwise solid until he clipped an innocuous Gayle off-break to Lionel Baker at mid on.
Gayle biggest influence was expected to be with the blade but the part time spinner ended up the West Indies' most penetrating bowler with three for 42 off 20 overs -- though loose strokeplay embellished his figures.
McIntosh was not alone in being undone by Gayle's gentle off-spin. His impetuosity proved contagious when Ross Taylor erased memories of crisp consecutive boundaries off Jerome Taylor by skying a slog sweep to Xavier Marshall at short mid wicket when on 15.
Taylor's unnecessary demise left the BLACKCAPS at a potentially vulnerable 128 for three before Flynn and Ryder steadied the innings.
Ryder, whose audition for the first drop berth ended in Adelaide a fortnight ago, brought up his second test fifty off 87 balls and looked typically aggressive, piercing through point and gully for several of his seven boundaries.
The West Indies employed a frontline pace attack as they did on their last visit to Dunedin across town at Carisbrook in 1980 -- though today's vintage had none of the menace associated with Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft.
Daren Powell was the only successful quick when How drove uppishly to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at point while debutant Baker, Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor toiled in the cold without reward.
Still, Gayle was satisfied with his side's position.
"It's a pretty decent batting wicket, the ball wasn't doing that much and the bowlers had to work hard. I'm not too disappointed to finish the day with them on 226 for four."
NZPA
