Cricket: McCullum puts Bracewell on notice

Shane Bond holds a catch despite a collision with teammate Peter Fulton to dismiss Paul Hitchcock yersterday. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Brendon McCullum has again hinted at his untapped potential up the order, this time after smashing a match-winning half-century for Canterbury in yesterday's Twenty20 final against Auckland.

Long regarded as an Adam Gilchrist-like striker of the ball, McCullum showcased his extraordinary talent yesterday when he opened the batting at Eden Park's Outer Oval and flayed 62 off 22 balls, including half-a-dozen sixes and four fours.

So aggressive was his 25-minute onslaught that Canterbury were able to make light of Auckland's 179-7, cantering to the inaugural State title with six wickets and 17 balls remaining.

On another day that reinforced the growing popularity of the three-hour format, McCullum thrilled a crowd of 4100 from the moment he walked to the wicket, and added more weight to the suggestion that he is being wasted down the order in the New Zealand one-day side.

The Black Caps' wicket-keeper has enjoyed some heady moments batting at No 8 on the international scene, most recently when he starred in his side's world record chase against Australia in Christchurch, smashing an unbeaten 50 off 25 balls.

However, with the retirement of Chris Cairns altering the balance of the squad and the authority of McCullum's game growing by the week, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if the Kiwi gloveman is opening by the time next summer's World Cup rolls around.

New Zealand coach John Bracewell has so far resisted all calls to make greater use of McCullum, but he could find his stance difficult to sustain if the little right-hander continues to fire like he did yesterday.

Chasing what was expected to be a challenging if not daunting total, Canterbury received excellent value from McCullum and fellow opener Nathan Astle; the pair bringing up the 50 off just 2.5 overs.

Astle carried on to strike 74 off 52 deliveries (11 fours and two sixes) before falling when the scores were tied, and Canterbury also had a useful contribution from discarded New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan, who struck 36 off 23 balls.

Having earlier been inserted by Canterbury, Auckland looked well on the way to setting a formidable total on the compact Outer Oval after Lou Vincent, Paul Hitchcock and Scott Styris all found themselves in compelling form.

Vincent hammered 36 off 20 balls and Hitchcock 37 off 26, but it was Styris who had the packed crowd in self-defence mode, his whirlwind 62 off 32 balls including five giant sixes, three of which struck a distant Sandringham Rd address.

The rampage at one stage appeared to have Auckland on track for a 200-plus total, but the introduction of Canterbury off-spinner Paul Wiseman made an immediate impact on the run-rate and robbed the hosts of valuable momentum.

The former New Zealand spinner called on all his experience through the middle of the innings while giving his opponents precious little to hit, ending with one for just 18 off three overs.

New Zealand will play the West Indies in a Twenty20 international at Eden Park on Thursday week.


TWENTY20 FINAL (Eden Park)

AUCKLAND

L. Vincent c McCullum b Cairns 36
P. Hitchcock c Bond b Astle 37
R. Jones c Cunis b Harris 4
S. Styris c and b Cairns 62
R. Nicol c Cunis b Wiseman 19
M. Pasupati c Cunis b Bond 0
K. Mills run out 2
R. Young not out 13
G. Andrews not out 3
Extras (2lb, 1w) 3

--Total (for 7 wkts, 20 overs) 179
Fall: 1/50, 2/56, 3/109, 4/152, 5/153, 6/162, 7/162.
Bowling: S. Cunis 3-0-33-0, S. Bond 4-0-42-1, C. Cairns 4-0-31-2, C. Harris 3-0-21-1 (1w), N. Astle 3-0-32-1, P. Wiseman 3-0-18-1.

CANTERBURY

B. McCullum c Pasupati b Hitchcock 62
N. Astle run out 74
C. McMillan c Andrews b Mills 36
C. Cairns not out 3
P. Fulton c Young b Styris 0
C. Harris not out 1
Extras (3w, 1nb) 4

--Total (for 4 wkts, 17.2 overs) 180
Fall: 1/80, 2/152, 3/178, 4/178.
Bowling: K. Mills 3-0-44-1 (1w), C. Martin 3-0-50-0, P. Hitchcock 3-0-24-1, M. Pasupati 4-0-27-0, R. Nicol 1-0-17-0, S. Styris 3.2-0-18-1 (2w, 1nb).
Result: Canterbury won by 6 wickets.