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McCullum bats New Zealand to safety

S. Dinakar

The Kiwi opener was solid in defence while being spectacular with his strokeplay

— Photo: K.R. Deepak

ABLE ALLY:Brendon McCullum was assisted in his match-saving essay by the precocious Kane Williamson, who made a tidy 69 in their 124-run fifth-wicket partnership.

Hyderabad: Brendon McCullum grew in stature, here on Tuesday. The New Zealand opener's heroic 308-ball 225 ensured a draw for New Zealand in the second Test. The man of the moment was also the Man-of-the-Match.

New Zealand declared its second innings at 448 for eight at tea setting India an improbable target of 327. Virender Sehwag delighted the audience at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium with a strokeful unbeaten 54 but India will rue the missed opportunity. With the series 0-0 after the first two Tests, the final Test in Nagpur from November 20 assumes significance.

Spinners disappoint

Frontline spinners Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha disappointed. The duo lacked consistency and bite off the surface. Successful bowling is much about operating in partnerships, creating the pressure from both the ends.

The pitch held firm but serious revolutions on the ball, control and deception in flight can still produce results.

The side has been hit by an injury to its pace spearhead as well. Zaheer Khan bowled on the final day but was troubled by a groin strain. He has been replaced by young left-arm seamer Jaidev Unadkat in the squad for the final Test.

Despite the limitations of the Indian attack, the Kiwis deserve credit for yet another stirring fightback. Under pressure for most part, the side showed resilience and character. In fact, the eighth-ranked Kiwis have displayed immense character against the World No. 1 side in the series.

In the ‘zone'

And McCullum moved into what professional sportspersons call the ‘zone'. He was all focus and determination, solid in defence and spectacular with his strokes. His decision to give up wicketkeeping — he is still the best 'keeper in the Kiwi ranks — meant McCullum was accepting more responsibility as a batsman.

This move also put additional pressure on him, depriving him of the cushion of possessing another specialist role in the side. To top it all, McCullum was opening the innings in Tests — always a high-risk option.

He has looked the challenge in the eye, discovered himself as a batsman. McCullum batted through overs, spells and sessions. From a mental perspective, this was an outstanding effort from a natural stroke-maker and a dasher.

McCullum still played his strokes but was judicious. Given the slightest of width, he cashed in. Sreesanth was sent screaming through point. Once again McCullum employed the reverse sweep against Harbhajan and Raina to disrupt the line. And left-armer Ojha was dismissed over long-off for the maximum. Like several batsmen of the modern era, McCullum's bat-speed is his ally as he cuts, whips and drives.

It was a glorious moment for McCullum when he scooped Raina over the 'keeper to reach his first Test double hundred.

The fifth-wicket partnership of 124 between McCullum and Kane Williamson (69) virtually saved the Test for New Zealand. The crucial first hour was negotiated with positive batting under duress.

Williamson is easy on the eye. He is a young free-flowing batsman with timing and balance. The Kiwi began the day with a flourish, clipping, straight-driving and guiding Sreesanth to the fence.

The transfer of weight was smooth as he stroked through covers off either foot. He danced down to both Harbhajan and Ojha striking the bowlers over the straight-field and mid-on.

Williamson fell to an ordinary decision after missing a flick to an off-spinner from Harbhajan delivered from round the wicket that pitching on middle and leg-stump. Replays showed the ball would have missed the leg-stump.

This was umpire Simon Taufel's second faulty verdict of the innings. The calls for UDRS are bound to become louder.

Handy partnership

Skipper Vettori's handy 51-run partnership with McCullum further shut the door on India. A draw was the only possible result when the left-handed Vettori mistimed one off Raina. Rahul Dravid pouched a sharp catch at short cover.

It was Dravid's 199th catch in Tests. He is poised to become the first non-'keeper to hold 200 catches in Test cricket.

It was also a day when India failed to latch on to a few half chances. The most significant one came when McCullum, on 148, was let off at short-leg by substitute Cheteshwar Pujara off Harbhajan.

New Zealand — 1st innings: 350.

India — 1st innings: 472.

New Zealand — 2nd innings: T. McIntosh c (sub) Pujara b Ojha 49 (126b, 4x4, 1x6), B. McCullum c Raina b Sreesanth 225 (308b, 22x4, 4x6), M. Guptill c Dhoni b Ojha 18 (67b, 1x4), R. Taylor b Sreesanth 7 (19b), J. Ryder c Dhoni b Raina 20 (31b, 3x4), K. Williamson lbw b Harbhajan 69 (146b, 9x4), D. Vettori c Dravid b Raina 23 (52b, 3x4, 1x6), G. Hopkins (not out) 11 (43b, 1x4), T. Southee b Sreesanth 11 (13b, 1x4), B. Arnel (not out) 1 (10b); Extras (b-4, lb-3, nb-5, w-2): 14; Total (for eight wickets decl. in 135 overs): 448.

Fall of wickets: 1-125 (McIntosh), 2-174 (Guptill), 3-187 (Taylor), 4-221 (Ryder), 5-345 (Williamson), 6-396 (Vettori), 7-431 (McCullum), 8-447 (Southee).

India bowling: Zaheer 7.3-1-21-0, Sreesanth 27-5-121-3, Ojha 47.3-14-137-2, Harbhajan 38-3-117-1, Tendulkar 2-0-7-0, Raina 13-2-38-2.

India — 2nd innings: G. Gambhir (not out) 14 (48b), V. Sehwag (not out) 54 (54b, 6x4, 1x6); Total (for no loss in 17 overs): 68.

New Zealand bowling: Southee 4-0-11-0, Arnel 5-1-11-0, Guptill 5-0-33-0, Taylor 3-0-13-0 .

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