Cricket: McCullum slams 206 against Pakistan

Brendon McCullum. Photo / Herald on Sunday.

A swashbuckling double century from opener Brendon McCullum saw a New Zealand 11 through to 342 for four at stumps on the first day of a three-day warm-up match against Pakistan at Whangarei today.

McCullum, who didn't play in the recent three Twenty20 matches between the two teams, was in good touch before he was dismissed for 206 off 218 balls.

He and Tim McIntosh put on 162 for the first wicket, and were scoring at just under 4.5 runs an over when McIntosh was caught by Azhar Ali off Abdur Rehman for 51.

BJ Watling took over the anchor role as McCullum laid waste to the Pakistani bowlers, slapping 20 fours and five sixes before he was caught by Umar Gul off Asad Shafiq in the 82nd over.

James Franklin, on 17, and Dean Browlie, with 11, were the unbeaten batsmen at stumps.

Wahab Riaz, Sajeed Ajmal, Rehman and Gul shared bowling honours in picking up a wicket apiece after New Zealand won the toss.

Both teams are using 12 players each for the warm-up game ahead of the upcoming two-test series, but are fielding near full-strength sides.

McCullum said the body had held up well today and he had no thoughts of retiring out.

"Hopefully I can can carry this form into series. I feel pretty good, a period away keeps you hungry and I'm looking forward to making a contribution in the test series."

It was another chance to develop his partnership with Tim McIntosh as test openers that could not be passed up, he added.

"We have had some we had some good ones (opening partnerships) and a couple of not so good ones so it's a good opportunity to work on it.

"Any chance to build on it has got to be taken especially with an attack like this one."

- NZPA