June 23, 2002	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 11, 1423

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BRIDGETOWN (Barbados), June 22: A solid 130 by New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming saved his team’s first innings from collapse in the first Test against the West Indies on Friday.

Fleming played a near-flawless 275 minutes before flicking a Carl Hooper delivery to Chris Gayle at leg slip. The captain’s innings carried New Zealand through to 257 for six, after they slumped to 117 for five, at the end of the play.

The New Zealand skipper has a history of failing to convert half-centuries to bigger scores, he has 33, though impressive concentration on Friday ensured he did not fail again and he notched up his fourth test century in his 69th match.

“I’ve got a lot of catching up to doI’ve still got four or five years at this level,” he said at the end of play. “The more I (get centuries), the better I’m going to get at it.”

Fleming came to the wicket with New Zealand in trouble at 38 for one after Lou Vincent was dismissed in the 13th over, edging a Mervyn Dillon delivery behind for 14, and held the innings together as the New Zealand middle order crumbled.

Despite some wayward bowling in the first session, the West Indies struck back after lunch when Adam Sanford sparked a collapse with a lethal inswinger to bowl Mark Richardson for 41.

Chris Harris (0) and then Nathan Astle (2) were caught by Brian Lara at first slip.

Astle was guilty of a poor shot, swinging wildly and putting his team in trouble at 106 for four.

Craig McMillan made just six runs before he was lbw to Sanford to put the visitors at 117 for five.

But Fleming and wicketkeeper Robbie Hart, in only his second test, then fought back and put on a 108-run sixth-wicket partnership.

Choosing his shots carefully, Fleming compiled the century that included 20 boundaries on the tight Bridgetown boundary before he was eventually dismissed to a ball that surprised him.

“It wasn’t a great delivery. The pitch was a bit inconsistent and that delivery bounced a little bit more,” Fleming said.

Hart was 34 not out at the close, while left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, who made a cautious start but then attacked the tiring West Indies bowlers, was on 21. Vettori hit five boundaries in his innings.

“They look a bit tired. The longer we keep them in the paddock, the better,” Fleming said.