McCullum's record double-ton sinks Pakistan

Brendon McCullum was the first New Zealand batsman, and fourth in history, to amass three double-centuries in a calendar year. The one he struck in Sharjah though was different.

It was almost a manifestation of his anger and grief at the death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes after he was struck by a short ball in a Sheffield Shield match. There were no celebrations. There was no sense of achievement and even after wrapping up Pakistan by an innings and 80 runs, McCullum admitted it was hard to focus on the Test.

Play was suspended on the second day and McCullum had read a teary-eyed statement on television on behalf of his team to the Hughes family when the Test resumed. Pakistan had been 285 for 3, but they were dismissed for 351 with Mark Craig picking up a career-best 7 for 94. None of the quicks bowled a single bouncer during the 125.4 overs of the innings.

McCullum built on that by reaching a century off 78 balls, the fastest in New Zealand history. The innings was filled with audacious strokes - there were 21 fours and 11 sixes - that showcased his rapid footwork and strong bottom hand. He finished with 202 off 188 balls and explained that the knock was as much a means to cope with his loss as anything. McCullum had been Hughes' opening partner for New South Wales in T20 cricket.

"I guess just playing with no hint of inhibition whatsoever, just going out and trying to enjoy cricket as much as we could, gave us a real good chance," he said.

New Zealand's total ballooned to 690, with Kane Williamson's 192 and four fifties down the order. Trent Boult's new-ball spell left the Pakistan top order in ruin and despite Asad Shafiq's century, the 339-run advantage Pakistan had conceded was too much to offset.

New Zealand had gone 0-1 down in the first Test in Abu Dhabi, with Pakistan plying an extremely effective ploy of mounting up a pile of runs and drawing from the scoreboard pressure. New Zealand borrowed that method in Sharjah to emboss only their eighth win against the opposition in 59 years.