Second Test, Hyderabad (day four, close):
New Zealand 350 & 237-4 v India 472
Match scorecard

Harbhajan also scored 69 and 115 in the opening Test

New Zealand's Brendon McCullum led the recovery after India spinner Harbhajan Singh made his second century in a row on the fourth day of the second Test.

Harbhajan hit 111 not out, smashing the Kiwi bowling attack for seven fours and seven sixes as India were all out for 472 to lead by 122 on first innings.

But McCullum led the New Zealand fightback as they reached 237-4 in their second innings, a lead of 115.

He finished on 124 not out, while fellow opener Tim McIntosh made 49.

An attacking McCullum and a watchful McIntosh, who scored a century in New Zealand's first-innings total of 350, added 125 for the first wicket to wipe out India's first-innings lead.

It was New Zealand's first century partnership for the first wicket in six years, but it came to an end when McIntosh got an inside edge off his pads to be caught at short leg off spinner Pragyan Ojha shortly before tea.

606: DEBATE Both teams could still win, although India remain favourites, if they can get them out by about lunchtime tomorrow gingerfinch

McCullum continued to use his feet well against the Indian spinners and hit 11 boundaries, including three sixes against an Indian attack handicapped by the absence of paceman Zaheer Khan, who left the field midway through his fifth over with an abdominal strain.

Kane Williamson finished the day unbeaten on 12 alongside McCullum after Martin Guptill was caught behind trying to slash a delivery from Ojha, Ross Taylor was bowled by a lovely delivery from Sreesanth and part-time spinner Suresh Raina had removed Jesse Ryder.

Last man Sreesanth and Harbhajan had earlier added 105 runs for the final wicket of India's first innings.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori (5-135) trapped Sreesanth leg before to complete his 19th five-wicket haul in a Test innings.

Harbhajan became the first number eight batsman to hit centuries in consecutive Tests, having scored 115 - his maiden first-class century - in the second innings of the Ahmedabad Test.

The three-match series is tied at 0-0 after the Ahmedabad draw, with the third and final Test to be played in Nagpur from 20-24 November.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version