PERTH, Australia (Reuters)
Debutant centurymaker Lou Vincent said a late New Zealand collapse had taken the shine off his special day in the third and deciding Test against Australia at Perth.

"I had mixed emotions at the end there," said Vincent, who hit 15 fours and a six in his 104 off 207 balls. "I was hoping we would finish with only a maximum of five down. Seven down is a bit of a kick in the gut. I guess it's a special day. I had a hundred in mind.

"It doesn't matter what level of cricket you play, you want to do well," he said. "Walking out today, there was definitely a few nerves there. That first ball ... I thought it might be up around the ribcage or the helmet but it wasn't to be. I played and missed and I thought well, I didn't nick it, so it could be my day, so keep going."

Vincent, who was raised in South Australia before returning to New Zealand, became the sixth player to make a century on debut for the Kiwis. "I just try to keep it simple and do the hard work at training and stuff and learn from the other guys around me. It was good to nick a couple over the top and get three figures."

Vincent said batting was hard work against the Australia pace attack who bowled to three slips and two gullies for much of the day. "I was expecting a few more bumpers, definitely," Vincent said. "I think whatever comes down, you have to be at your best and play it well. At the end of the day winning does count. It will mean a lot to me if we can get through these five days and get a result."

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