Brendon McCullum is a very dangerous T-20 batsman. This was apparent when he top-scored with a blistering 158* in the Indian Premier League’s inaugural match back in 2008. It is this ruthless streak that dismantled England during the second T-20 International between the two countries which was held at Seddon Park in Hamilton, New Zealand, on February 12, 2013. McCullum top scored with a brutal 74 off 38 deliveries to take his team to 192 off their 20 overs, England could only manage 137 in response.
Guptill and Rutherford started well for New Zealand. Both openers reached the 40’s in quick time before Wright picked up Rutherford in the 8th over of the game. This brought McCullum to the crease, who then proceeded to take the English attack to the cleaners, hitting five 6’s and six 4’s to reach 74 off 38 deliveries. When Dernbach removed McCullum on the penultimate delivery of the New Zealand innings, the damage was already done, with the Kiwi’s reaching a mammoth total of 192.
The twenty-over format of the game is highly unpredictable though, and England would have come out believing that they would be able to chase down the runs. However, James Franklin had other plans and took 4 wickets for 15 runs in 3.3 overs to stifle the English, restricting them to 137. Jos Buttler was the only man who put on a commendable score with 54 off 30 deliveries, but it was not enough to see England home.
