Twenty20 is a brutal game. Lucky, then, that Brendon McCullum is such a brute.
The master blaster smashed 100 off just 49 balls to guide Otago to a comprehensive nine-wicket win against Northern Districts in an HRV Cup game in Hamilton yesterday.
It was his fourth Twenty20 hundred (second for Otago) and featured eight sixes and seven fours. But his was not a lone hand.
He combined with Neil Broom in a fabulous undefeated partnership of 188, as the Volts made light work of Northern's total of 187 for five.
Broom has struggled with the tempo of Twenty20 but showed what he his capable once he gets set, thrashing 79 from 50 deliveries. The right-hander had been under pressure leading into the match. His form had been marginal at best and he was involved in the disappointing run out of Hamish Rutherford in the first over of Otago's reply. So it was a good response from a talented batsman.