Cricket: McCullum's century exorcises Lord's demons

1.00pm - By MARTYN WATTERSON

DHAKA - Bangabandhu National Stadium maybe a world away from the spiritual home of cricket at Lord's in London, but for Brendon McCullum the Dhaka venue felt like heaven yesterday.

The Black Caps wicketkeeper will have fond memories of the white-washed concrete terraces after he cracked his maiden test hundred to put New Zealand in a commanding position heading into the fourth day of the first test today.

McCullum, 23, scored 143 in his seventh match launching New Zealand to a likely match winning total of 402, with Bangladesh two wickets down in their second innings and 184 runs behind.

The accolade of posting a test century could have come sooner for the Dunedin-born cricketer after he fell agonisingly four runs short at Lord's in May -- an occasion that must rank as one of the most heartbreaking in cricket.

Yesterday, in clear and very warm conditions, McCullum knocked the three figures off.

"I was ecstatic. It was a reasonably important time when I came out to bat and we managed to put some partnerships together. To come away with a test hundred is just a fantastic feeling.

"The 96 (at Lord's) hurt because I had worked pretty hard to get there, so this get's the monkey off my back in a way today.

"Lord's was certainly a learning curve because now I just play my natural game in the 90s and don't get too bogged down thinking about it. It's just of matter of another five or six runs," McCullum said.

In reaching the ton, the Canterbury player displayed all his natural talents of scoring quick singles and fence-finding ability as he raised his second 50 in just 77 balls, with his 100 coming from 158 balls, with 10 boundaries, in 222 minutes.

However from that point, McCullum had to rein in his progress after losing teammates at regular intervals as his next 43 runs took 85 balls.

"When I came in (at 139 for five), we were in a slightly sticky situation. It was just a matter of trying to spend some time at the crease and hopefully if I sighted the ball well I would be able to pick up runs later and it happened.

"Scoring was never going to be easy against their spinners as they bowled very well.

"It was hard to pick up runs, particularly in the way I normally play, so possibly the most satisfying part is that it was against my natural game, yet I managed to come away with a good result."

McCullum's effort now ranks as the third highest test total by a New Zealand wicketkeeper behind Warren Lees' 152 against Pakistan in 1976 and Ian Smith's 173 against India in 1989.

It was also the equal highest score by a Black Cap against Bangladesh in the three tests -- including the current one -- played between the sides.

His innings was finally halted after attempting to turn a Mohammad Rafique delivery to the on-side when the ball popped up for an easy catch at silly mid-on.

"There are a few records on the line. It would have been nice to get them, and to get out playing a little dinky shot like that was pretty frustrating.

"I made sure I had prepared as well as I could to hit the ground running in this test series and fortunately today the cards fell and they managed to come out the way I wanted."

- NZPA