Captain Brendon McCullum smashes fastest century in New Zealand's Test history
Friday 26 December 2014 22:21, UK
Captain Brendon McCullum smashed the fastest century in New Zealand's Test history as the Kiwis bossed day one of their first Test with Sri Lanka in Christchurch.
McCullum broke his own 78-ball New Zealand record by four balls, which he set only last month against Pakistan.
The Black Caps captain eventually compiled 195 off 134 balls as part of a team total of 429-7 at a new-look Hagley Oval.
There were many highlights for the hosts and McCullum in particular, but perhaps his stand of 153 for the fifth wicket with Jimmy Neesham was the best, the pair scoring at 7.84 an over while together.
Neesham would make 85 from 80 and Kane Williamson a more considered 54 from 98 as the tourists toiled in the second and third sessions.
Sri Lanka had looked on song at one point, though, reducing the hosts to 60-2 and 80-3, but after that it went downhill.
There were some teething problems for the venue, with both opening bowlers losing their footing, but they were quickly amended.
Hamish Rutherford went first for 18, cleaned up by Suranga Lakmal, with Tom Latham then holing out to point for 27.
Ross Taylor followed for seven, run out attempting a quick single, but that brought McCullum to the crease and he set about causing chaos.
Williamson made a watchful 54 in his company before he was bowled by Dhammika Prasad, but by this point all eyes were on McCullum.
He and Neesham both swung from the hips and McCullum was on course for the quickest double hundred in Tests - having gone to 200 in his last outing too - but he holed out to long off when facing Thaurinda Kaushal, with his stand including 18 fours and 11 sixes.
BJ Watling came out and added 26, but he went to the last ball of the day to Angelo Mathews - the Sri Lankan captain had, in the meantime, got rid of Neesham for 85.
