Monumental stand dashes Indian hopes in Wellington

McCullum scores big double hundred to lead epic comeback in second Test.

A world record sixth wicket stand worth 352 runs all but sealed India’s hopes of winning the second Test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

Day four of the Test belonged to skipper Brendon McCullum, who posted a monumental double century, his second of the two-match series. McCullum ended the day on an unbeaten 281, his partner BJ Watling who played the innings of his life was finally dismissed for 124 complied off 367 balls. Mohammed Shami took his wicket to bring to an end a deflating partnership for MS Dhoni’s men.

But Watling’s dismissal did little for India though as Jimmy Neesham rubbed salt in the opponent’s wounds by scoring an attacking unbeaten 67 by close of play.



He has so far added 125 runs for the seventh wicket with McCullum; the hosts ended the day at 571 for six an overall lead of 325 runs.

Magnificent McCullum ‘living a dream’

McCullum was understandably happy with the monumental comeback partnership with Watling, the right-hander who also scored a double hundred in the first Test of the series in Auckland told reporters after the end of play that he was living a dream.

“We set our game plans and our strategies, and you dream the dreams and you don’t always live them. Today, BJ and myself were able to put ourselves in a very good position”.

McCullum who has faced as many as 525 balls in his innings that include 28 fours and four sixes is keeping his cards close to his chest on a possible declaration, he is 19 runs short of a maiden triple century yet wants to make most of the dominant position his team has found after a poor first innings.

“I cannot assure you on that (batting tomorrow) yet. Whatever we decide, we will make sure we give it a 100%.”

His epic knock is the longest by a New Zealand batsman in Test history; no Black Caps batsman has scored a triple ton in the longest format of the game, while McCullum has so far spent more than 12 hours at the crease during his record breaking effort.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2014.

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