Cricket: Watling's guts keep match alive

BJ Watling celebrates his third test century. Photo / Getty

Captain Brendon McCullum will deservedly get the most glory as he endeavours to become the first New Zealand test cricketer to score a triple century today ... but spare a thought for BJ Watling.

This was Watling's finest hour as a test batsman, responding to what seemed an insurmountable situation at 94 for five, still requiring 152 to make India bat again. It fulfilled the very definition of "test".

Watling met his "test" the whole way, enduring for eight and a half hours and 367 balls to make a highest test score of 124. He helped deliver fans arguably the greatest fightback in the country's cricketing history with a world record sixth-wicket stand of 352.

A serene Watling acknowledged the crowd after clipping a Zaheer Khan half-volley to the mid-wicket boundary to bring up his third test century. His teammates poured on to the dressing room balcony, hands raised in applause.

"I'm really proud of BJ," McCullum said. "Everyone knows what a scrapper he is and how hard he works. He has that real resilient streak, especially coming off a duck as well."

Watling said it was a rewarding grind.

"We just took each ball at a time, each over at a time, each hour at a time. To lose one wicket [in the day] was a pleasing effort. The third day was about getting through and trying to fight back. Today was pretty much the same. That first hour was crucial."

Watling said he tried not to get caught up in the hype as records fell.

"I wasn't really thinking about those, to be fair. The announcer said a few things but nah, you're just trying to bat each ball.

"We had a couple of chats [between overs]. We talked about staying in the moment and taking the next over. We tried to get to that [third] new ball and keep building the lead."

Watling sensed Indian heads dropping as New Zealand made 319 for one in the day.

"I guess after more than 150 overs in the field that tends to happen. We've probably got an hour tomorrow to see how we sit. It's still a good batting track but I think if the conditions are right our bowlers could swing it and put them under pressure."