Batsman Brendon McCullum became the first New Zealander in the history of Test cricket to score a triple century, as the series decider against India in Wellington ended in a draw on Tuesday.
Resuming on 281 not out, McCullum secured the 19 runs needed to surpass former captain Martin Crowe’s 299 achieved against the Sri Lankans in Wellington more than two decades ago.
The talented right-hander, who scored a double ton in the series opener, which the hosts won by 40 runs in Auckland, was eventually dismissed for 302. The mammoth vigil spanned 775 minutes, 559 deliveries – and featured 32 fours and a quartet of sixes.
His departure brought a standing ovation from the appreciative, albeit sparse, Basin Reserve crowd. Indian opponents vast and varied, too, congratulated the triple-centurion.
Debutant Jimmy Neesham, meanwhile, welcomed a fine century – to complement the 124 accrued by wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling on Monday. The declaration contemplated overnight eventually arrived with the score on 680 for eight – the nation’s highest ever Test score.
Veteran left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan’s final figures of five for 170 were the lone consolation for a visiting attack otherwise inadequate against a dominant batting department – in reasonably placid conditions.
Fast bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee, later, secured three quick wickets to alarm Indian fans dotted around the venue. A commanding, unbeaten century from the talented Virat Kohli, however, soon corrected the wrongs of openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan and the right-handed Cheteshwar Pujara’s collective failure.
McCullum was, justifiably, named Man of the Match. The Black Caps and Indians will soon begin preparation for the World Twenty20, which will get underway in Bangladesh next month.
