Jimmy Neesham made a fine 85 yesterday; Kane Williamson a classy 54 but the solid bet is those present at Hagley Oval yesterday won't remember much about either innings.
Christchurch cricket people have watched Brendon McCullum at a distance over the last year. They got a first hand look as the year winds down and won't forget what they saw in a long time.
McCullum adorned cricket's newest test venue with a stunning 195 to push New Zealand from an even stevens position just after lunch to 429 for seven, from which a serious challenge for victory can be pursued today.
Doing spectacular deeds is nothing new for the pugnacious little skipper. This is one case where numbers do talk loudly.
Having become the first New Zealander to hit a test triple century early in the year -- along with two double centuries that were keys to spectacular victories -- McCullum yesterday became the first New Zealander to make 1000 test runs in a calendar year, but that was just part of it.
Having got his eye in, he took Sri Lanka's attack apart. Remember, Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews won the toss. The visitors expected plenty out of a green, seaming pitch, but McCullum ripped the game away from them.
He had help, notably from Williamson in a 126-run third wicket stand of which Williamson scored 20; and Neesham, with whom he paired up for a rollicking 153-stand in 117 balls.
But McCullum enjoys centre stage and when he's in an imperious mood and seeing the ball like a pumpkin watch out.
He has form for picking his moments. Remember his 158 in the first Indian Premier League match back in 2008? Yesterday he adorned Hagley Oval and the occasion in similar fashion.
McCullum bristles with aggression. Singles don't interest him.
His stellar year has produced a string of wonderful, contrasting innings, but in a way this might have been the best expression of his work.
At times it looked like it could not last; at others you thought it would never end. He was the playground bully, in the nicest way.
Arriving at the crease in the first over after lunch, McCullum tore into his work. Sixes were slapped with disdain, mostly straight, or to mid wicket, along with one vicious hook which flew hard and flat into the crowd.
There were 11 in all. Nine more and he will have hit more sixes in test cricket than anyone. Mark that down as a when, not if, long before he's done.
There was the occasional wild smear but that's McCullum. His eye is formidably good, his confidence sky high, and he simply went into one-day mode.
Sri Lanka's bowlers were not good enough, or savvy enough to keep him off strike and work on his batting partners.
Suranga Lakmal was the best of them. McCullum clobbered 26 in an over off him.
Debutant offspinner Tharindu Kaushal went for 159 off just 22 overs. As Bruce Willis put it in Die Hard, welcome to the party, pal.
Sri Lanka didn't help themselves in the opening session, being too wide too often in conditions which certainly offered help. Don't expect New Zealand's bowlers to be as generous when their time comes today.
They weren't helped by their finest player, Kumar Sangakkara twice spilling catches. Heads went down as the carnage went on.
Neesham will wake this morning hugely satisfied with his innings. He needed it, coming off a lean run and he showed he can strike a ball as cleanly as anyone, including his skipper.
Williamson is up to 898 runs for the year but seemed to lose his way as McCullum charged on, before falling to the best ball of the day.
The onus will now be on New Zealand's bowlers to capitalise.
This pitch will offer assistance to the seamers throughout the match, according to New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan.
Let's see. But they'll have to go some to top yesterday's events.
By David Leggat of the New Zealand Herald in Christchurch
