< >

McCullum leads New Zealand charge with fastest Test century

by Sandeep Shivam Saturday 20 February 2016

Brendon McCullum scored 145 off just 79 deliveries in the first innings of the second Test in Christchurch.

©REUTERS / Action Images

New Zealand 370 (McCullum 145) v
Australia 57-1 (Burns 27no)
Second Test, Christchurch, day one
Scorecard

Brendon McCullum smashed a 54-ball century, which is the fastest in Test cricket as New Zealand went on to post 370 runs in just 67.4 overs before getting dismissed in the first innings of the second Test against Australia in Christchurch.

In response, Australia managed to score 57 for one in 20 overs, still trailing New Zealand by 313 runs, with Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja at the crease.

Earlier, Australia won the toss and inserted New Zealand into batting first on what was McCullum's final international game.

Australia drafted James Pattinson in the place of injured Peter Siddle while New Zealand went for four-man pace attack with Matt Henry and Neil Wagner returning to the side.

Martin Guptill (18) survived a close lbw shout in the second over from Pattinson (2-81) after which he responded with a couple of boundaries in the same over.

In an eventful fourth over from Pattinson, Guptill was dropped at short leg by Burns after which he edged one past the slips to the third man boundary as New Zealand raced to 20 for naught after four overs.

Pattinson finally got his man as Guptill handed a catch to the short leg fielder and this time Burns pouched it safely ending the 21-run opening stand.

Tom Latham (4) struggled to cope up with the swing and was stranded at four runs after facing 36 deliveries. His vigil finally came to an end after he edged a Jackson Bird (2-66) delivery at second slip where Steven Smith took a diving catch.

The procession of wickets continued as Henry Nicholls (7) was trapped lbw by Josh Hazlewood (2-98). Nicholls reviewed the decision but the ball was clipping the bails.

McCullum received a standing ovation from the Christchurch crowd as he made his way into the middle in his final international game.

It did not take him long to get going as he plundered Mitchell Marsh (1-62) for 21 runs in the 23rd over and smashed a couple more boundaries in the next over from Pattinson to take New Zealand to 74 for three at lunch.

Kane Williamson (7) was dismissed in the first over in the second session after he was taken brilliantly by Smith at second slip off Marsh. New Zealand were reeling at 74 for four at that stage.

That's when Corey Anderson (72) joined McCullum and the pair added 179 runs for the fifth wicket from just 110 deliveries.

Anderson started the onslaught with a six and a four off Marsh in the 29th over and McCullum tore Bird apart for 14 runs in the 31st over and also brought his half-century off 33 deliveries in the process.

The pair brought the 50-run stand off 32 deliveries and further added 155 runs in 17 overs as the Australian bowlers were looking clueless.

Anderson brought his fifty off 39 deliveries while McCullum at the other end raced to a 54-ball century to become the fastest individual hundred getter in Test cricket surpassing the joint 56-ball record held by Sir Vivian Richards and Misbah-ul Haq.

Despite the carnage, Australia held back things at the stroke of tea as Pattinson had McCullum caught at deep square leg while Nathan Lyon (3-61) deceived Anderson and was caught at cover. New Zealand ended the second session at 273 for six.

Lyon further contributed with the wickets of Tim Southee (5) and Matt Henry (21) but BJ Watling (58) kept the innings going adding 24 runs with Neil Wagner (10) and another 36 runs with Trent Boult (14).

New Zealand were bowled out for 370 in 65.4 overs that came at a run rate of 5.63 in their innings. Lyon had three wickets for Australia while Pattinson, Hazlewood and Bird took two wickets apiece.

Australia started their innings positively after scoring 24 runs in the first six overs but Trent Boult (1-18) forced an edge of Warner (12) in the eighth over and was caught by Guptill at second slip.

However, Burns (27 not out) and Khawaja (18 not out) saw the remaining 74 balls through without losing a wicket as Australia ended the day at 57 for one, still trailing New Zealand by 313 runs.