Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum wants another step up from his team in their final Twenty20 international against England at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium on Friday.
New Zealand’s stunning 55-run win in Hamilton on Tuesday levelled the three-match series after England took out the opening game with a 40-run victory at Eden Park in Auckland two days earlier.
McCullum’s 38-ball 74 played a vital role as the Black Caps set a challenging 192-6 at Seddon Park in Hamilton, but he says it was an across-the-board improvement which secured the win.
“We performed very well across all three facets of the game, and it was a stark improvement from the previous game,” he said on Thursday.
“Now the challenge is knowing England will come back stronger and smarter.
“It’s hard in Twenty20 because small margins can change the game quite a lot. We’ve got to make sure we’re as clear as we can be about how we want to play, adapt to the game as it’s unfolding and make sure we execute in the areas we need to.”
McCullum expects New Zealand’s seam attack to continue the outstanding effort which bowled England out for 137 in Hamilton, but says there’s a possibility left-arm spinner Ronnie Hira could prove useful if the wicket looks slow in Wellington.
Rookie bowler Mitchell McClenaghan bowled with pace and aggression in collecting 2-24 on Tuesday, while a rejuvenated Ian Butler proved all but unplayable in picking up 2-9.
McCullum says Trent Boult also impressed, while James Franklin tidied up the tail efficiently for figures of 4-15.
“I thought they bowled really smartly on that wicket the other day – they pitched it up a little bit more than what England did, and gave the ball an opportunity to swing and nip around.”
After a challenging tour of South Africa, when two massive Test losses were redeemed by a rare one-day series win, McCullum says the Black Caps are working hard to establish consistency.
“Every game’s a big game for us – we can’t afford to be complacent about one good performance,” he said.
“The result is first and foremost of huge importance, but also how we play is significant as well.
“It’s imperative we put out another good solid performance and show we’re capable of backing up consistently.”