Black Caps buoyed by life in pitch

New Zealand hope another of their prolific performers from 2014 can step up, this time with the ball on day two of the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka in Christchurch.

A record-breaking first day at Hagley Oval on Friday left the Black Caps 7-429, the most runs they have ever scored in a day of Test cricket, despite facing fewer than 81 overs.

Brendon McCullum’s 195 off 134 balls included a colourful 153-run partnership with allrounder James Neesham, whose long-hitting 85 off 80 balls may be enough to secure his World Cup berth following some lean returns against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

Mark Craig, on five, will be joined by Tim Southee when play resumes on Saturday.

New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan hopes the tail can prosper before a key moment at some point on Saturday, when New Zealand take the new ball.

He was heartened by the nature of wicketkeeper BJ Watling’s dismissal for 26, trapped lbw by Angelo Mathews from a delivery that jagged considerably.

“You saw in that last over, the ball’s still seaming,” McMillan said.

“The onus will go on our bowlers to hit the right lengths, to attack the stumps because right throughout this game there’s going to be something there for them.”

While McCullum continued his magnificent form this year, McMillan is banking on pace bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee to do the same.

Both have claimed 27 scalps this year, leaving them just outside the world top 10 in 2014 for wickets.

Their biggest challenge may well be removing Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara, now the only player who has scored more runs this year than McCullum.

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