The milestone
Brendon McCullum has lost two Twenty20 records in the last year, his international and domestic high scores overtaken by Aaron Finch and Chris Gayle. But there is one milestone that looks like being his for a long while to come, as McCullum became the first batsman to score 2000 international T20 runs. He is around 600 clear of the next best, Mahela Jayawardene, who is retiring at the end of the tournament, and at 32 years old, he should have the opportunity to pile up booty for some time to come.
The steady start
In their five previous matches, Netherlands had finished the batting Powerplay with the following scores: 63 for 1 (against South Africa); 15 for 4 (Sri Lanka); 91 for 1 (Ireland); 38 for 4 (Zimbabwe); and 67 for 0 (UAE). Peter Borren has called for more consistency and responsibility from his top order and the openers, Stephan Myburgh and Michael Swart, appeared to have taken that on board. Myburgh's strike rate was just 69.56 when he fell in the sixth over, as Netherlands ended the Powerplay on a relatively sedate 37 for 1.
The fumble
When Borren hesitated after pushing a Nathan McCullum delivery short into the off side, it should have been the end of him. Luke Ronchi nipped forward from behind the stumps and threw to McCullum, standing ready to complete the dismissal at the other end. Borren hadn't even begun to throw himself for the line when the ball arrived, only for it to bounce off McCullum's wrist and pinball out from his grasp, giving the batsman time to scramble home.
The limit
Jimmy Neesham managed to concede just one run off the penultimate over, bowling a series of wide deliveries that got about as cosy to the return crease as possible. Ben Cooper left the second ball of the over but went after the next three, failing to get bat on ball as Neesham pitched full and wide. The final delivery, as Cooper moved across to try and get closer to the line, Neesham sent a couple of inches past leg stump. All of which appeared to be to the satisfaction of the standing umpire Bruce Oxenford.
The warm-up
This was another sweltering day for those outside in the sun at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium but professional sportsmen can't just lounge around and hope the heat will seep through into their muscles. Logan van Beek, perhaps expecting to be promoted up the order for a dash, spent a few minutes jumping over a skipping rope by the boundary boards before returning to sit in the shade.
The reunion
Van Beek was born in New Zealand, played for the Under-19s team before switching allegiance and turns out for Canterbury in the Plunket Shield. He didn't get to bowl to Corey Anderson or Neesham, team-mates at the 2010 U-19 World Cup, but did pick up one of us countrymen, Kane Williamson, in his first over.