India vs. New Zealand 2nd Test Match: McCullum inspires a draw in Hyderabad
India, the number one team in Test matches, crawled to another draw against New Zealand. New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum's double century reaped his side a draw as he steered his team to safety thus avoiding a loss.
Day four of the Test match at http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hyderabad-c792 saw McCullum reaching his third century in five Tests this year in a bid to anchor the Black Caps to safety. He annihilated India by taking a calculative approach towards the Indian bowling attack, avoiding Harbhajan
Singh’s attack quite tactfully.
New Zealand made 350 in their first innings before being bowled out by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750. India replied back with Harbhajan Singh’s unbeaten ton of 111 that drove his side to have a fair lead. They scored 472 before being bowled out. Daniel Vettori took five wickets
in the first innings.
The last day was a bit slow, the only entertainment being provided by McCullum who completed his double century. India’s Zaheer Khan also gave a cameo after bowling just three overs in the morning session. He was having difficulty due to an abdominal
strain and left the field again. The Indian spinners were seemed to be struggling on the pitch and they were clearly missing Khan’s pace.
McCullum did not have any trouble during his innings as he completely dominated the Indian bowling throughout the day. The day started rather predictably as the Black Caps and Indians chose to keep it safe.
However, there were two chances where it seemed like a result could be generated for the Indians. A gleam of hope for a result came when McCullum was at 148 and the Black Caps were leading by 185 runs but Pujara dropped him at short leg.
The second chance came in the hands of Harbhajan as he created an opportunity to dismiss Kane Williamson with an off break but the lbw appeal was turned down after replays showed the ball missing the stumps. This certain excitement was further amplified
a notch when Harbhajan closed the fielders in to put extra pressure on Williamson, however he somehow survived the final moments day 4. The last day saw Williamson completing his half century but getting bold by Harbhajan. He, along with McCullum had already
done enough damage to any hope for a result as the Black Caps were 223 runs ahead. The Kiwis were not looking to declare at any moment as they needed McCullum to complete his double century, recording the highest ever score by any New Zealander.
New Zealand was not the only one to go into the record books. India’s “wall” http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rahul-c83321 Dravid also bagged his 199th catch in Tests as he caught Vettori’s wicket.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754, ranked number 8 in the ICC Test rankings have now leveled the score again as the second Test match is drawn. The number 1 ranked side will lose a point if they fail to win the final Test match to be held in Nagpur scheduled to start on
20thNovember.
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