Cricket: McCullum steals show in win by Volts

Otago batsman Brendon McCullum celebrates his century against Auckland in the HRV Cup twenty/20...
Otago batsman Brendon McCullum celebrates his century against Auckland in the HRV Cup twenty/20 match at the University Oval yesterday. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Brendon McCullum just keeps finding new ways to entertain and kept a crowd of 2810 enthralled with a magical innings at the University Oval last night.

The Black Caps and Otago batsman sent a full toss sailing over the midwicket boundary to raise his ton in style and moments later hit the winning runs with a trademark flourish - an audacious flick over the wicketkeeper for a boundary.

"I thought it would add to the atmosphere a little bit," he joked shortly after the match.

It did. And what a game.

Auckland batted well enough, reaching 168 for eight - probably a par score on what was a good batting deck.

Ian Butler bowled magnificently, taking six for 28. Yes, six for 28.

On any other day the bowling all-rounder's efforts would have made their way to the top of the story - it was the first time someone has taken six wickets in a New Zealand domestic twenty/20 game.

But this was not any other day.

This was the McCullum show.

He anchored a superb chase and his remarkable undefeated innings of 108 ensured Otago overhauled Auckland's total.

He combined in a 101-run stand for the first wicket with Hamish Rutherford as Otago looked to be cantering to victory.

But the old master, Scott Styris, had a trick or two left up his sleeve, wiggling out three quick wickets.

Earlier he had top-scored for Auckland with 54 from 44 deliveries.

Rutherford mis-timed a pull shot, Craig Cumming offered a catch and Nathan McCullum was trapped in front.

For the first time, the Volts looked jittery and the required run rate started to climb.

The home side needed 21 off the last two overs but with McCullum, and the big-hitting Butler, in the middle the target remained in reach.

Michael Bates was assigned the penultimate over and with two singles coming off his first two deliveries the tension started to mount on the batsmen.

Desperate to get back on strike, McCullum was caught following up too far.

Butler had dug out a yorker, but only as far as the bowler.

McCullum found himself three-quarters of the way down the pitch and alongside Bates with no chance of making his ground.

Realising McCullum was going to be run out at the non-striker's end, Butler, unselfishly, sacrificed his wicket.

The pair crossed just before Bates threw the stumps down.

Butler was gone but, crucially, McCullum had survived and better still he was on strike.

And he duly delivered, whacking the next delivery over extra cover for an imperious six to ease the nerves in the dressing room.

Another six later in the over ushered in his 100.

It was McCullum's second twenty/20 100.

His first was a scarcely believable 158 not out for Kolkata in the inaugural game of the Indian Premier League.

That innings made him an overnight star in India and some of the hottest property on the twenty/20 circuit.

Yesterday's innings was not the same kind of all-out onslaught but it was still impressive and featured four sixes and 10 fours.

"It was a pretty good rush," McCullum said, adding he owed Butler a big thanks for his quick thinking.

"He is a pretty switched-on cricketer and he knew the situation. If I hadn't hit those boundaries I'm sure he would have. But it is certainly easier for a guy who is in to strike on a wicket like that."

Earlier, Brendon's older brother, Nathan McCullum, pulled off an absolutely astonishing piece of fielding.

Running from wide midwicket McCullum leaped high and took a one-handed catch on the boundary.

But realising he was going to carry the ball over the rope he flung it back in field.

He could not recover the ball to complete the catch but it was an acrobatic display worthy of a 10 on the scorecard.

Styris ran two but McCullum's athleticism robbed him of a certain six.

Otago is in second place with 18 points from six games.

Its next match is against Wellington at the Basin Reserve tomorrow.

Wellington is in fifth place with six points.

Central Districts leads the competition with 20 points.

 

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