AUCKLAND : Brendon McCullum received a standing ovation in his last appearance at Eden Park but it was Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls who led the way in New Zealand’s opening ODI against Australia on Wednesday.
New Zealand were 307-8 after at one stage being on track to better 350 before Australia knocked the run charge off line.
McCullum, who retires from international cricket after the Australian series, produced a typical whirlwind innings of 44 off 29 in his last appearance in Auckland and the crowd rose and applauded as he left the field.
But Guptill (90) and Nicholls (61) with a 100-run stand for the third wicket ensured New Zealand had an innings of substance before Australia clawed their way back into the game.
When New Zealand reached 181-2 halfway through the innings they had Australia on the ropes, but the game turned after Guptill’s dismissal.
Four wickets fell for 53 runs in 12 overs as the New Zealand middle order fell apart.
After being sent into bat, there was never any suggestion of the 34-year-old McCullum playing for safety against New Zealand’s closest rivals in their first ODI since Australia won the World Cup final last year.
But New Zealand had some heart-stopping moments when he put his reputation as a ruthless batsman on display from the start.
For the first eight deliveries he faced, McCullum swung in vain and was repeatedly a whisker from delivering a catch opportunity.
But once he found his timing he smacked two sixes and two fours off four consecutive Josh Hazlewood deliveries.
Guptill joined the action hitting Kane Richardson on to the roof of the stadium as New Zealand, having one run on the board after 14 deliveries, raced to 27-0 after 19.
The 50 came up in the seventh over and McCullum appeared untroubled until he tried to drive a yorker from James Faulkner and was bowled to end a swashbuckling innings that included three sixes and five fours. (AGENCIES)
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