Cricket: McCullum's devoted service earns draw

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HYDERABAD, India - Brendon McCullum climbed a peak few New Zealanders have conquered to help save the second test on the final day against India today.

The 29-year-old scored a test best 225 to ensure the match ended in a stalemate, sending the two sides to Nagpur for the third test starting on Saturday with the series still up for grabs.

New Zealand were 448 for eight at tea, with Gareth Hopkins on 11 and Brent Arnel on one, holding an overall advantage of 326 runs.

McCullum's career-best innings helped set an improbable 327-run target for India in the final session as the Kiwis declared at their tea score of 448-8.

Virender Sehwag (54) and Gautam Gambhir (14) were the not out batsmen as India reached 68-0 before stumps were called.

McCullum reached the finish line of his personal marathon when he skied a catch off fast bowler Shantakumaran Sreesanth 30 minutes before the tea break after being at the crease for 544 minutes and facing 308 balls, hitting 22 fours and four sixes.

In his second match as a specialist opener after a 52-test career as a wicketkeeper/batsman, McCullum produced some golden goods with just his country's eighth double century on foreign soil.

And he became only the second New Zealander to post a double century in India after the late, great Bert Sutcliffe made 230 not out at New Delhi way back in the dark ages of the 1955-56 season.

Along the way he guaranteed the tourists became only the fourth New Zealand team to top 400 in the third innings of a test away from home, and short only of the best of 469 against England at Lord's in 1931.

For a man renowned as a slasher and dasher in the one-day and Twenty20 formats of the game, it was a remarkable display of application and concentration from McCullum, who raised his double century in the middle session by lapping part-time spinner Suresh Raina to the fine leg fence.

It came after 501 minutes of dedication to the team cause after the tourists had resumed this morning with McCullum on 124 and the team score at 237 for four, just 115 runs ahead overall.

He had commendable support for the entire first session from Kane Williamson, fresh from his 131 on debut in the first test at Ahmedabad, who made a high quality 69 as they put on 145 for the fifth wicket before Williamson departed early in the second session when he missed a turning delivery from offspinner Harbhajan Singh to be trapped leg before wicket.

Williamson again revealed his mature nature as New Zealand ticked all the right boxes this morning, the 20-year-old thriving on the heavy responsibility placed on his shoulders.

Williamson's cricket nous was obvious as he ensured the runs kept ticking over to reach his 50 off only 77 deliveries with eight boundaries.

Williamson did not take any undue risks and used the full depth of the crease intelligently to calmly pick off the Indian bowlers by cleverly using his feet to the spinners and finding gaps in the field through well judged placement.

New Zealand began briskly this morning, with Williamson the instigator as he helped himself to three boundaries in the opening over from Sreesanth with a solid turn behind square, a straight drive and a glide through the vacant gully region.

He refused to be dictated to as he used his feet to hit left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha back over his head twice.

His positive intent was obvious and it greatly aided McCullum, who took guard this morning determined to extend his stay as long as possible.

Williamson's forthright approach enabled his senior partner to dig in and pace himself, which he did, taking 37 minutes before registering his first boundary of the day when he hit Sreesanth through gully.

McCullum had a life on 148 when substitute fielder Cheteshwar Pujara could not hold on to a sharp chance at short leg off offspinner Harbhajan Singh.

But that was McCullum's only blemish until his mis-hit off Sreesanth.

India got only three overs out of pace spearhead Zaheer Khan today.

The left-arm quick suffered an abdominal strain yesterday morning and did not bowl at all in the last two sessions of the fourth day.

Today, he sent down two overs with the second new ball before leaving the field, presumably for treatment to his injury, and returned to field after lunch.

After two tests, the series remains at 0-0, with the third and final test to be played in Nagpur.

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- NZPA, AP