Anton Devcich clattered the bowling about for a short time, being the first, but by no means the last batsman to send a ball to the Mobil station across the road from the outer oval.
Then former international Styris took charge to show just what an asset he would still be for the New Zealand T20 side if he was available.
The powerful Styris slammed eight sixes in his 26-ball unbeaten 68. At one point, Styris helped himself to five sixes in seven successive deliveries.
The culprits, from Auckland's perspective, were Colin de Grandhomme and Andre Adams. In the space of four overs from the pair, Styris and James Marshall helped themselves to 69 runs, their stand worth 73 in a hectic 4.1 overs.
When it was over, ND had reached 142 for four. Styris put a couple of Adams' deliveries high into the back of the main oval, but he wasn't fussy; both sides of the ground got a good sight of the ball.
It was a wretched day in most cricketing respects and maybe it should have been called off early. But then Styris gave plenty to cheer, even if Auckland weren't exactly enjoying the spectacle.
Auckland host Wellington at Eden Park on the main oval tomorrow night, while ND visit New Plymouth to play Central Districts on Saturday.
In Wellington, ferocious hitting by the home side got them to 213 for five, enough for a 53-run win over CD.
Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal hit 35 off 20 balls; Jesse Ryder 47 off 22, English pro Chris Woakes an unbeaten 55 off 29 and Grant Elliott 35 off just 18 as Wellington clattered the CD attack.
Points table: ND 16, Wellington 12, Auckland 8, Otago 8, Canterbury 0, CD 0.
