Harbhajan creates record with his run fest (Statistical highlights)

HYDERABAD - Harbhajan Singh’s 269 runs in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand is a record by a number eight batsman and the Indian offspinner has surpassed former Pakistan seamer Wasim Akram’s 257 runs against Zimbabwe in 1996-97.

Harbhajan has posted three fifty-plus in consecutive innings for the first time in his career - 69 and 115 at Ahmedabad and an unbeaten 85 at Hyderabad.

As a batsman, for the first time in a Test series, Harbhajan has amassed 200 or more, aggregating 269 at an average of 134.50, including one century and two fifties.

Other match highlights:

* Harbhajan and Sreesanth put on an unbroken stand of 69 - India’s best for the tenth wicket against New Zealand, bettering the 57 between Bishan Singh Bedi and Ramakant Desai at Dunedin in 1967-68.

* Harbhajan’s runs’ tally is the second highest in the present series, next only to Virender Sehwag (270).

* Sreesanth (14 not out off 47 balls) has posted his highest innings against New Zealand.

* Only twice has Sreesanth faced 50 or more balls in a Test innings - 29 not out off 54 balls against West Indies at St. John’s in June 2006 and 29 not out off 53 balls against England at Mumbai in March 2006.

* Laxman has posted his 48th Test fifty - his sixth against New Zealand.

* Laxman is averaging 50, amassing 3457 (ave.50.10) in 53 Tests, including seven hundreds and 23 half-centuries

* Laxman has amassed 205 runs at an average of 68.33, including two fifties, in the current series.

* Suresh Raina (20) has posted his best knock against New Zealand. In the first Test at Motera, he had posted only 3 & 0.

* Pragyan Ojha has recorded his first duck in Tests.

* Tim Southee has produced his best bowling performance against India, outstripping the 2 for 94 at Wellington in April 2009.