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| | GEO Sports | | Dunedin Test: NZ 226-4 against WI on 1st day | Updated at: 0131 PST, Friday, December 12, 2008
 DUNEDIN: 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.
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 dismissal 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.
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 minute stay 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.
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. |  |
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