Even after a man-of-the-match performance in the Blackcaps's series-opening one-day win over Sri Lanka, seam bowler Henry Shipley knows he still has plenty to do to become a national team regular.
Leading a depleted bowling attack at Eden Park, Shipley bagged his first international five-wicket haul, taking 5/31, as the standout performer in New Zealand's 198-run win.
He took four of the first five wickets to fall and returned to claim a fifth, as the home side bowled Sri Lanka out for just 76 runs to go 1-0 up in the best of three series.
For Shipley, 26, who debuted for his country in difficult Pakistan conditions at the start of the year and endured a chastening tour of India after that, a first taste of playing on home soil was welcomed.
Before Saturday's win, Shipley had only taken three ODI wickets at an average of just under 44. That record now reads eight wickets at 20.25.
The harsh environment of the subcontinent proved to be a learning experience that the bowling all-rounder used to his betterment.
"The performance is still pretty surreal," Shipley said. "Just being able to play in front of a home crowd and hear that roar for the first time when it's going our way is something that's really special, and will stick with me for a long time.
"It was more about trying to take as much confidence from it as possible. It's a pretty tough place to go.
"You don't win too many in the subcontinent, even though you try to win them all. The confidence from the difficult conditions was something I could try and apply here."
At a time when several of his star teammates are away on Indian Premier League duty, Shipley has done his chances of regular appearances no harm.
With a Cricket World Cup to be played in India later this year, Shipley's match winning efforts came in the absence of Tim Southee.
As the IPL contingent will miss not only the ODI and T20 series against Sri Lanka, but another white-ball tour of Pakistan, Shipley and his fellow second-string pacers will get plenty of chances to prove their worth.
He knows it will take more than just one performance against a weak Sri Lankan outfit to cement his place going forward.
"There's a long way to go. Using the next month to gain as much experience as possible will be invaluable.
"You just keep building and when the time comes, you try and stand up, and do what you can for the team.
"I didn't quite think I'd be playing for New Zealand. I'm just trying to take it as it comes and just see what happens.
"It's just one game at a time."
