McCullum on song, Watling adds melody
18 Feb 2014 5:55 AM IST
The partnership between the NZ duo is the highest in the world for the sixth wicket and put the hosts in control of the match. New Zealand, who started the day at 252 for five, are now in a position to dictate terms. Even after the mammoth sixth-wicket partnership, India had a chance to take back control. But another brilliant stand, unbeaten 125-run partnership, between Jimmy Neesham (67 batting) and McCullum thwarted India’s efforts.
There was a records galore as McCullum and Watling led New Zealand’s fight-back with some resilient batting. McCullum, who is nearing a triple-century, became New Zealand’s second highest individual scorer and if he scores 19 more runs, he will become the first Kiwi batsman to reach the mark.
India, to their credit, never let their shoulders fall. They were excellent on the field and Ishant Sharma, who had picked up six wickets in the first innings, bowled well, but without much luck. Mohammad Shami, who was the sole wicket-taker Monday, too bowled in good areas.
Zaheer Khan, though, laboured throughout the day. He bowled without any sting and found the going tough while fielding as well.Earlier, McCullum recorded his third double century while Watling scored his third hundred, as New Zealand reached 440 for five at tea.
The NZ pair piled on the misery for Indian bowlers who had failed to take a wicket in more than 120 overs. Indian bowlers looked short of ideas and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni brought on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to change things around. But that too didn’t work as McCullum and Watling continued to pile on the runs. In the mornig session, McCullum, who was dropped twice on Day Three, offered half a chance to Shikhar Dhawan at second slip but other than that he was exceptional. Watling too gave his skipper able company, barely giving Indian bowlers a sniff.
World record set for 6th wicket stand
Wellington: New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum and B J Watling Monday broke the world record for the highest sixth-wicket partnership with a 352-run stand against India in the second Test on Monday. McCullum and Watling scored 229 (not out) and 124 runs respectively to break the previous record of 351 which was put together by Mahela Jayawardene and Prasanna Jayawardene in 2009 against India. McCullum and Watling’s marathon stand came to an end when latter was trapped LBW by Mohammed Shami in the first over after the new ball was taken. In the course of the partnership, McCullum became only the sixth player in history and the first from New Zealand to score two double centuries in back-to-back Test matches. This was also McCullum’s third double hundred, all these big knocks have come against India. Watling joined McCullum Sunday when New Zealand were tottering at 94 for the loss of five wickets.
‘Very proud of Monday’s play’
Wellington: New Zealand batsman B J Watling, whose world record sixth-wicket partnership with skipper Brendon McCullum Monday gave the home team a crucial advantage in the second Test against India, said he feels proud of the effort as the visiting bowlers put him through a ‘storm’.
Watling scored his third Test century, 124 runs, while his partner was unbeaten on 281 going into the last day of the series. ‘I am definitely very proud of the way we went about things Monday. I think Brendon batted extremely well again Monday and to be in the position we are now after two days ago, we are pretty pleased with how things went. It was just a grind. We just took each ball at a time, each over at a time, each hour at a time. They came at us hard and we sort of weathered the storm and then got a few runs away and just kept trying to take them as deep as we could. To lose one wicket throughout this fourth day is a pretty pleasing effort,’ said Watling, after the day’s play.
‘The first hour was crucial. Each session was just about starting again and keeping the partnership going and get as many runs and take as much time out of the game as possible,’ he added.
There was a records galore as McCullum and Watling led New Zealand’s fight-back with some resilient batting. McCullum, who is nearing a triple-century, became New Zealand’s second highest individual scorer and if he scores 19 more runs, he will become the first Kiwi batsman to reach the mark.
India, to their credit, never let their shoulders fall. They were excellent on the field and Ishant Sharma, who had picked up six wickets in the first innings, bowled well, but without much luck. Mohammad Shami, who was the sole wicket-taker Monday, too bowled in good areas.
Zaheer Khan, though, laboured throughout the day. He bowled without any sting and found the going tough while fielding as well.Earlier, McCullum recorded his third double century while Watling scored his third hundred, as New Zealand reached 440 for five at tea.
The NZ pair piled on the misery for Indian bowlers who had failed to take a wicket in more than 120 overs. Indian bowlers looked short of ideas and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni brought on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to change things around. But that too didn’t work as McCullum and Watling continued to pile on the runs. In the mornig session, McCullum, who was dropped twice on Day Three, offered half a chance to Shikhar Dhawan at second slip but other than that he was exceptional. Watling too gave his skipper able company, barely giving Indian bowlers a sniff.
World record set for 6th wicket stand
Wellington: New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum and B J Watling Monday broke the world record for the highest sixth-wicket partnership with a 352-run stand against India in the second Test on Monday. McCullum and Watling scored 229 (not out) and 124 runs respectively to break the previous record of 351 which was put together by Mahela Jayawardene and Prasanna Jayawardene in 2009 against India. McCullum and Watling’s marathon stand came to an end when latter was trapped LBW by Mohammed Shami in the first over after the new ball was taken. In the course of the partnership, McCullum became only the sixth player in history and the first from New Zealand to score two double centuries in back-to-back Test matches. This was also McCullum’s third double hundred, all these big knocks have come against India. Watling joined McCullum Sunday when New Zealand were tottering at 94 for the loss of five wickets.
‘Very proud of Monday’s play’
Wellington: New Zealand batsman B J Watling, whose world record sixth-wicket partnership with skipper Brendon McCullum Monday gave the home team a crucial advantage in the second Test against India, said he feels proud of the effort as the visiting bowlers put him through a ‘storm’.
Watling scored his third Test century, 124 runs, while his partner was unbeaten on 281 going into the last day of the series. ‘I am definitely very proud of the way we went about things Monday. I think Brendon batted extremely well again Monday and to be in the position we are now after two days ago, we are pretty pleased with how things went. It was just a grind. We just took each ball at a time, each over at a time, each hour at a time. They came at us hard and we sort of weathered the storm and then got a few runs away and just kept trying to take them as deep as we could. To lose one wicket throughout this fourth day is a pretty pleasing effort,’ said Watling, after the day’s play.
‘The first hour was crucial. Each session was just about starting again and keeping the partnership going and get as many runs and take as much time out of the game as possible,’ he added.
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