McCullum urges NZ to keep up momentum against Sri Lanka

DUNEDIN, New Zealand: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has challenged his side to continue their momentum after a 122-run victory against Sri Lanka in the first Test match.

The New Zealanders lost the three-match series across the Tasman 2-0, but had improved throughout and were considered unlucky not to have snatched a series draw with victory in the deciding day-night test in Adelaide, which the hosts managed to clinch in a tense three-wicket finish.

Against Sri Lanka at University Oval in Dunedin, with more favourable conditions, they showed they could sustain their level of good play as they eye a return series against Steve Smith’s side next February.

“It was essential to get the win because we played some excellent cricket,” McCullum said.

“The thing about Australia was I think we got better as the series went on, and in this Test match, we stepped it up after another notch,” he said. “The challenge for us for the next three matches over the summer is to keep putting that line in the sand further and further away. That’s a challenge for us,” he added.

What must have been pleasing for McCullum was the fact that Martin Guptill managed to put a poor return against Australia behind him to score 202 runs in the match, while Tom Latham finally converted a start to notch his first century at home.

Bowlers Doug Bracewell and Neil Wagner also continued to charge in on a pitch that did not deteriorate through the entire five days and performed the thankless task of tying down an end and exerted scoreboard pressure on the Sri Lankans.

Bracewell, who was arguably the best bowler for New Zealand in Australia, continued his strong form without much return.

“I thought he bowled absolutely brilliantly throughout the match,” McCullum said of Bracewell’s match return of 1-88 from 40.2 overs. “The good thing is he didn’t get frustrated,” he added.

Wagner, brought in as the fourth seamer, also put pressure on Sri Lanka’s batsmen with a sustained period of hostile short-pitched bowling that kept them on the back foot and will cause coach Mike Hesson selection issues ahead of the second test.

“There’s obviously times when there’s been a bit of resistance there and we just had to keep plugging away and I thought that’s when Neil Wagner really stepped up for us,” McCullum said.

“The key for his side, McCullum added, was to keep up that intensity when the second test begins at Hamilton’s Seddon Park on Friday.