Dean Brownlie looks certain to remain on the fringes of the Blackcaps side for the upcoming series against South Africa after playing a vital knock to help secure the Chappell-Hadlee trophy.
Brownlie slotted into the side for Sunday's match - replacing Martin Guptill who looks like he could miss more cricket due to a niggling leg injury - hitting a vital 63 at the top of the order.
"[I'm] really delighted for Dean," Blackcaps coach Mike Hesson.
"He's been around the group with the test squad for a little while and fought his way back in, it was quite a specific role against that attack. We needed someone who could play the swinging ball and deal with pace. We were hoping Deano [Brownlie] was able to do that and he performed exceptionally well."
Despite scoring runs against one of the best bowling attacks in the world, on a pitch that did a little, Hesson alluded to the fact the 32-year-old is seen as more of a gap filler than a permanent starter.
"The beauty of Dean - he's been in our test squad for the last couple of series - he's able to cover different positions.
"He's come in, we know he can cover at the top but he can also cover in the middle, in terms of if you have an injury, he's the perfect replacement for us."
Brownlie made his international debut in 2011 against Zimbabwe before the acid test that was an away test tour to Australia. With an international average hovering below 30, he's fallen behind in the pecking order.
He has been released to play for the Northern Districts against the Otago Volts at the University Oval in Dunedin.
The Blackcaps will open the South African series with a T20 match at Eden Park on February 17.
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