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Brilliant Brendon McCullum nears triple century against India Brilliant Brendon McCullum nears triple century against India
(6 months later)
Brendon Brendon McCullum is 19 runs away from scoring New Zealand’s first triple century in Tests after steering his team out of danger against India in Wellington.
McCullum is 19 runs away from scoring New Zealand’s first triple century in The New Zealand skipper played one of his country’s great innings to reach 281 not out at stumps on day four of the second Test, having commandeered a colossal momentum shift after the Black Caps were staring at defeat midway through day three.
Tests after steering his team out of danger against India in Wellington. Trailing by 246 runs on the first innings, New Zealand are now 571-6 and hold a 325-run lead.
The They could yet declare on Tuesday and push for a victory although holding a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series may influence McCullum to some extent.
New Zealand skipper played one of his country’s great innings to reach 281 not The fourth day was a statistician’s dream as McCullum built a world record sixth-wicket stand of 352 with BJ Watling.
out at stumps on day four of the second Test, having commandeered a colossal The skipper ploughed on after wicketkeeper Watling’s dismissal for 124, compiling another 125 with debutant all-rounder James Neesham, who made an aggressive 67.
momentum shift after the Black Caps were staring at defeat midway through day McCullum’s score is the second-highest in New Zealand Test history and 18 runs short of Martin Crowe’s 299, scored at the same venue in 1991. Having arrived at the crease in the second over of day three, McCullum has batted 726 minutes, which is the longest stay at the crease by a Black Cap. It is the 16th-longest innings in Test history.
three. The 32-year-old needed regular attention between overs from team physiotherapist Paul Close, particularly late in the day. Leg and back stretches between deliveries became a regular sight for a man who has battled injury problems in recent years. He struck 28 fours and four sixes and faced 525 balls.
Trailing McCullum and Watling, who came together after lunch on day three, batted nearly four full sessions in a partnership which usurped the previous highest sixth-wicket stand of 351 between Sri Lanka’s Mahela and Prasanna Jayawardene, against India in Ahmedabad five years ago. The pair finished third on the New Zealand list for all Test partnerships.
by 246 runs on the first innings, New Zealand are now 571-6 and hold a 325-run They barely offered a half-chance through the first two sessions after resuming at 252-5, scoring in compact fashion against an attack that tired noticeably in unhelpful conditions.
lead. Seamer Mohammed Shami (2-136) took the only wicket of the day when he trapped Watling lbw in the first over with the third new ball. All four specialist Indian bowlers conceded more than 100 runs in hot, unforgiving conditions.
They Captain MS Dhoni’s early fields were surprisingly defensive, particularly to McCullum, allowing both batsmen to ease comfortably into the day.
could yet declare on Tuesday and push for a victory although holding a 1-0 lead
in the two-Test series may influence McCullum to some extent.
The
fourth day was a statistician’s dream as McCullum built a world record
sixth-wicket stand of 352 with BJ Watling.
The
skipper ploughed on after wicketkeeper Watling’s dismissal for 124, compiling
another 125 with debutant all-rounder James Neesham, who made an aggressive 67.
McCullum’s
score is the second-highest in New Zealand Test history and 18 runs short of
Martin Crowe’s 299, scored at the same venue in 1991. Having arrived at the
crease in the second over of day three, McCullum has batted 726 minutes, which
is the longest stay at the crease by a Black Cap. It is the 16th-longest
innings in Test history.
The
32-year-old needed regular attention between overs from team physiotherapist
Paul Close, particularly late in the day. Leg and back stretches between
deliveries became a regular sight for a man who has battled injury problems in
recent years. He struck 28 fours and four sixes and faced 525 balls.
McCullum
and Watling, who came together after lunch on day three, batted nearly four
full sessions in a partnership which usurped the previous highest sixth-wicket
stand of 351 between Sri Lanka’s Mahela and Prasanna Jayawardene, against India
in Ahmedabad five years ago. The pair finished third on the New Zealand list
for all Test partnerships.
They
barely offered a half-chance through the first two sessions after resuming at 252-5, scoring in compact fashion against an attack that tired noticeably in
unhelpful conditions.
Seamer
Mohammed Shami (2-136) took the only wicket of the day when he trapped Watling
lbw in the first over with the third new ball. All four specialist Indian
bowlers conceded more than 100 runs in hot, unforgiving conditions.
Captain
MS Dhoni’s early fields were surprisingly defensive, particularly to McCullum,
allowing both batsmen to ease comfortably into the day.