New Zealand set India 327-run target (Tea Report)

HYDERABAD - New Zealand declared their second innings at 448 for eight after Brendon McCullum slammed his maiden double century, setting India a target of 327 at tea on the fifth and final day of the second cricket Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here Tuesday.

Resuming at 237 for four, McCullum (225) and Kane Williamson (69) scored briskly as 102 runs came up in the first session of the day. New Zealand made 350 runs in the first innings and then bowled out India for 472.

McCullum and Williamson stitched a 124-run stand for the fifth wicket that prevented the Indian bowlers from making any breakthrough, despite the return of Zaheer Khan, who missed a large part of Monday’s action following an abdominal strain.

Both McCullum and Williamson played with ease and used their feet well against the Indian spinners as runs flowed freely from both ends.

Williamson started on an attacking mode hitting S. Sreesanth for three fours in the very first over. Williamson got his fifty with a paddle-sweep off Pragyan Ojha that earned him two runs and in the next ball punched the left-arm spinner through point for his ninth boundary.

McCullum, who was dropped on 148 at forward short leg by Cheteshwar Pujara off Harbhajan, took some time to get the two runs for his 150. But after he reached the landmark, McCullum found his attacking sense, and toyed with the spin duo of Harbhajan and Ojha. McCullum hit 22 fours and four sixes during his 308-ball stay.

Harbhajan removed Williamson shortly after lunch while Sreesanth and Suresh Raina struck in quick succession to remove McCullum and New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori (23).