Brendon McCullum notched the highest individual score in Twenty20 international history to help New Zealand humble Bangladesh by 59 runs in their World T20 clash at Pallekele stadium on Friday.

The 30-year-old right-hander smashed seven sixes and 11 fours during his 58-ball 123 to give New Zealand, who reached 3-191 in their 20 allotted overs, a rampaging start to the group D match played in overcast conditions.

McCullum's clean hitting made it gloomy for Bangladesh who were restricted to 8-132 in their 20 overs, with Tim Southee (3-16) and Kyle Mills (3-33) sharing the spoils.

Nasir Hossain played a lone fighting hand with an impressive 39-ball 50, studded with six boundaries and a six while opener Mohammad Ashraful made 21. Shakib Al Hasan fell for 11.

New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor praised McCullum's robust innings.

"When you have someone score a century in T20 you're always in the box seat," said Taylor.

"The wicket nipped around early on and seemed to zip on a little bit under the lights. Hopefully this win will give us momentum."

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim said McCullum had made all the difference.

"We bowled well in the first few overs but McCullum, even when he doesn't hit the ball well, it's still going for six. We'll look at our strengths and come up with a new strategy for the next game," said Rahim.

It was all McCullum when New Zealand batted after being sent in by Bangladesh.

McCullum hit two sixes in Abdur Razzak's last over of the innings to go clear of South African Richard Levi's previous highest score of 117 made against New Zealand in Hamilton earlier this year.

He fell caught off the last delivery to end Bangladesh's miseries but not before helping New Zealand to 63 runs off the last four overs.

New Zealand lost Martin Guptill in the fourth over but McCullum ensured a big total with his ruthless slogging, hitting Hasan for two sixes in his successive overs.

He added 94 for the second wicket with James Franklin who made 35, and 78 for the third wicket Ross Taylor (14).

McCullum reached his tenth half-century off just 29 balls with the first of two successive boundaries off Ziaur Rahman and continued with the same aggression.

He was dropped on 92 before hitting two boundaries off Elias Sunny to complete his ton off 51 balls.

The knock was McCullum's second T20 century. His first came against Australia at Christchurch in 2010.

New Zealand play Pakistan in a probable Group D decider on Sunday.