McCullum salvages draw against India

Batsman hits double-century as NZ draw first Test.

HYDERABAD: Brendon McCullum smashed a career-best 225 to help New Zealand draw the second Test against India.

McCullum unleashed 22 fours and four sixes during his nine-hour innings as the tourists declared at their tea score of 448 for eight on the fifth and final day of the match. That left India – who made 472 in their first innings in reply to New Zealand’s 350 – with an improbable target of scoring 327 runs off 30 overs in the final session.

“We’re extremely pleased with our batting,” said New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori. “Our top-order came into this match under pressure. But they responded extremely well.

“For Tim McIntosh to come out of a pair and score a century was commendable. He set up the game for us. McCullum played so positively, to score a double hundred in second innings in India is something special.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2010.