When Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum arrived in Dhaka and the fantasy opening pair consisting of two of the most destructive T20 batsmen in the world was on the cusp of becoming reality, McCullum seemed to be unnecessarily modest when he was asked about the prospect.

"I'll probably just try and give him the strike and watch him hit sixes," said the former New Zealand captain who laid all and sundry to the sword while taking his side to the 2015 World Cup final.

As the tournament wore on, however, it became evident that McCullum, while still dangerous, was not quite able to reprise his heyday fireworks on pitches where the ball does not really come on. Yesterday, however, his words proved prophetic to the T. In a 201-run second-wicket partnership with Gayle, who hit the small matter of 18 sixes in a 69-ball 146, McCullum's share was a pedestrian 51 off 43 balls. And the man affectionately called Baz proved to be a man of his words.

In the last over, with Gayle on strike, McCullum twice refused singles, and each time Gayle rewarded his partner's acumen with huge sixes. Apart from the packed house at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday, there was one more spectator on the field of play, and it was a highly-skilled one.