New Zealand batsman Daniel Flynn fell five runs short of his maiden century after the West Indies used a new rule to successfully challenge the umpire's decision in the first Test here Thursday.
The 23-year-old scored 95 as New Zealand made a solid 226 for four on the opening day of the first of two Tests before bad light stopped play about 70 minutes early.
Flynn's relief at being given not out by umpire Amiesh Saheba after being rapped on the front pad by a ball from West Indies captain Chris Gayle turned to consternation when Gayle appealed to the third umpire for a review.
Third umpire Rudi Koertzen used video replays to check the lbw appeal before telling Saheba they showed Flynn was out.
This Test series is being used to trial a new rule where both fielding sides and batsmen can ask for a review of an umpire's decision, although each team is limited to three
unsuccessful review requests in each innings.
The review rule has been trialled in Tests only once before when Sri Lanka hosted India in July and August.
The dismissed was not the kind of history Flynn wanted to make after he made the most of his promotion up the order to number three, scoring his maiden Test 50 before falling frustratingly short of a century.
But he took the decision to reverse the umpire's initial call on the chin.
"I thought I was hit outside the line but once I looked at it again I've seen it's hit me in line. You can't really argue with it can you?” he told reporters.
Gayle sympathised with Flynn but said the referral system had the potential to help the game.
"It's unfortunate he missed out on a hundred, he batted pretty well even though it was a good wicket to bat on," he said.
Playing just his eighth Test, Flynn survived the occasional bad shot to play the anchor role for New Zealand, hitting 12 fours in his 188-minutestay at the crease.
Jesse Ryder mixed careful defence and daring stroke play to remain undefeated on 54 at the end of the day, putting on 61 runs for the fourth wicket with Flynn.
Gayle's dismissal of Flynn was his third wicket for the day and the languid off-spinner finished with figures of three for 42 off 20 overs.
The placid University Oval wicket did no favours for the West Indian bowlers, but some of the New Zealand batsmen were guilty of not taking full advantage by throwing their wickets away with poor shots.
Debutant opener Tim McIntosh played the early supporting role, recovering from a nervous start to reach 34 before falling shortly after the lunch break and ending an 87 run partnership with Flynn.
New Zealand's opening partnership woes -- which have seen a stream of batsmen come and go in recent seasons — continued with the early dismissal of How with the total on 10.
McIntosh took 34 balls to get off the mark, edging a streaky four over gully to end his frustration.
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The debutant struggled to come to terms with the pace of Fidel Edwards, Daren Powell and Jerome Taylor in the first hour, but gained in assurance after hitting Edwards for two fours.
Six overs into the afternoon session, McIntosh gave his wicket away too easily, mistiming an on-drive off Gayle to find Lionel Baker at mid-on.
Gayle struck again eight overs later when the talented but ill-disciplined Ross Taylor skied an attempted sweep to
Xavier Marshall at mid-wicket to end his innings on 15.
SCOREBOARD
Scoreboard at stumps on the first day of the first Test between New Zealand and the West Indies at the University Oval in Dunedin on Thursday: NEW7.EALAND: First innings McIntosh c Baker b Gayle 34
How cChanderpaulb Powell 10
Flynn lbw b Gayle 95
Taylor c Marshall b Gayle 15
Rydernot out 54
McCullum notout 4
Extras: (lb-10, w-3,nb-l) 14
Total. (For 4 wkls in 73 2 overs) 226 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-97, 3-
128,4-189
To bat: Franklin, Vettori, Mills, Gillespie, O'Brien
Bowler O M R W
Taylor 11 4 32 0
Powell 13.2 5 33 1
Edwards 11 3 46 0
Baker 17 2 61 0
Gayle 20 1 42 3
Nash 10 2 0
WEST INDIES: Gayle, Chattcrgoon, Sarwan, Marshall, Chandcrpaui, Nash, Ramdin, Taylor, Powell, Edwards, Baker.
Toss: New Zealand.
Umpires: Mark Benson and Amiesh Saheba.