WELLINGTON, New Zealand: Captain Brendon McCullum became the first New Zealander to score a triple century in test cricket in a 13-hour innings which ended Tuesday as the home side posted a lead of 434 on the final day of the second test against India
(Thanks to NZ Herald for video)
India was 10 without loss at the break at the Basin Reserve after New Zealand declared on 680-8, its highest-ever test score.
McCullum hit a four off Zaheer Khan to go from 298 to 302 and overtake Martin Crowe’s 299 against Sri Lanka in 1991 — also at the Basin Reserve. He was out shortly after without adding to his total when he was caught behind by Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Zaheer.
Shikhar Dhawan was on two with Murali Vijay on 7 at the interval.
New Zealand leads the two-test series 1-0 after winning the first test at Auckland by 40 runs.
Jimmy Neesham made a century on debut in a 179-run partnership with McCullum for the seventh wicket and was 137 not out when the declaration was made 20 minutes before lunch.
New Zealand’s total, which was built around the world record 352-run sixth wicket partnership between McCullum and wicketkeeper B.J. Watling (124) surpassed its previous highest test score of 671-4, made against Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in the match where Crowe achieved his previous record total.
New Zealand’s declaration ending an innings which took just over 15 hours and marked the end of one of the greatest fight backs in test cricket history.
When McCullum began his innings on the third day Sunday, New Zealand was 52-3 and battling to save the test after trailing India by 246 in the first innings.
New Zealand was 92-5 when McCullum and Watling came together four overs after lunch on the third day and their partnership, which lasted 8-and-a-half hours, ended Monday with the home team on 446, leading by 200 runs with the test and series all but saved.
Sensing history in the making, thousands packed the Basin Reserve on a work day Tuesday to watch McCullum’s last drive toward his triple century.
Men in suits lounged on the stadium’s grassy bank and spectators applauded every ball as the New Zealand captain edged closer to the historic mark.
Hearts leapt into mouths when McCullum, on 293, edged a ball from Ishant Sharma which bounced inches in front of the gloves of wicketkeeper Dhoni.
McCullum then went to 297 with a four off Sharma and to 298 with a single through mid-wicket. He finally admitted New Zealand to test cricket’s 300 club with a four behind point of Zaheer and received with a standing ovation that lasted several minutes.
He was out two balls later and left the field to another ringing ovation, having batted 775 minutes and faced 559 balls in the longest innings by a New Zealander in test or first class cricket.
