Wellington, Feb 27: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has admitted that he made a mistake to let the Proteas off the hook in the first of the three match one-day series, which the South Africans won by six wickets. Chasing New Zealand''s 253 for nine, South Africa raced towards home with 28 balls to spare on Saturday night, before a crowd of 10,192. McCullum feels he should have been more aggressive after putting South Africa in a difficult position. "It stems from the bowling; it''s got to be aggressive and keep the fielders up and people in catching positions.

Just roll the dice somewhat. I''ve got to take responsibility; I probably just backed off a bit and it''s not in my makeup," Stuff. co. nz quoted McCullum, as saying. "If you can advance the run rate you can put some pressure on them that way. It wasn''t the way [on Saturday]; I probably should have kept attacking, so I learned a lesson," he said. The match at Westpac Stadium was tantalizingly balanced when Doug Bracewell tempted a false hook shot from Jacques Kallis, who trudged off for 13 to leave his side 35 for three in the 10th over. De Villiers rotated the strike and consolidated, building a stand of 90 with JP Duminy (46 off 74 balls).

McCullum felt that quiet period of containment rather than attack decided the match, when another quick wicket was all they needed The skipper felt New Zealand''s total was competitive, especially after South Africa lost three early wickets. While not regretting the decision to bat first, he backed his batsmen to chase a total on a Napier belter in the second one-day. (ANI)