McCullum raises his bat after scoring the fastest 150 in Test history

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum smashed the fastest 150 in Test history to put his side in charge against Sri Lanka on the first day of the first Test in Christchurch.

McCullum was well supported by James Neesham and Kane Williamson as they made 85 and 54 respectively.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews would have been pleased with his decision to bowl first after New Zealand opener Hamish Rutherford was clean bowled by Suranga Lakmal for 18.

Tom Latham managed to make 27 before he was caught by debutant Tharindu Kaushal at point off the bowling of Shaminda Eranga.

Ross Taylor only made seven runs before he was run out by Kaushal Silva.

McCullum and Williamson stabilised the innings with a 126-run partnership, during which McCullum brought up his 11th Test century and Williamson his half-century, before Williamson was cleaned up by Dhammika Prasad.

Williamson’s excellent knock of 54 came off 98 balls and included seven boundaries.

Williamson’s sublime form with the bat continued

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

McCullum and Neesham kept the runs flowing with a 153-run partnership, during which McCullum surpassed 150 runs and Neesham registered his half-century, before McCullum was caught by Dimuth Karunaratne at long-off to give Kaushal his maiden Test wicket.

McCullum’s superb knock of 195 came off 134 balls and included 18 boundaries and 11 sixes.

During his knock, McCullum broke numerous records. He scored the fastest Test century by a New Zealand batsman, made the quickest 150 in Test history and equalled the record for the most sixes hit in a Test innings by a New Zealand batsman.

New Zealand’s dominance with the bat continued as Neesham and BJ Watling put together a 53-run partnership before Neesham was caught by Kumar Sangakkara at slip off the bowling of Mathews.

Neesham’s brilliant innings of 85 came off 80 balls and included 10 boundaries and three sixes.

Neesham hammered 10 boundaries and three sixes during his knock of 85

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Watling went on to score 26 runs before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Mathews.

Following Watling’s dismissal, the umpires decided to bring play to an end for the day.

Mathews was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Kaushal, Prasad, Eranga and Lakmal chipped in with one wicket apiece.

New Zealand ended day one on 429/7 and will continue batting tomorrow at 11:00 local time or 22:00 GMT (previous day).