NZ declare after McCullum makes history

New Zealand have set India 435 to win following a historic final morning of the second Test in Wellington dominated by Brendon McCullum’s batting milestone.

The New Zealand captain became the first Black Cap to score a Test triple century, reaching 302 two balls before he was dismissed in the 11th over the day.

His teammates ploughed on before McCullum declared soon before lunch at 8-680, a Test world record score for the second innings.

It was also New Zealand’s highest Test score, a remarkable achievement given they were 5-94 midway through the third day and staring at defeat.

New Zealand added 109 runs for two wickets in 21 overs on Tuesday after resuming at 6-571 on Tuesday.

A draw is the likeliest result. New Zealand may struggle to take 10 wickets on a relatively benign pitch while India have just 66 overs to reach the target.

Allrounder James Neesham was not out on 137, the big left-hander unleashing a rollicking 154-ball innings in his Test debut. It was a world record for a No.8 batsman on debut.

However, his deeds were eclipsed by McCullum, who surpassed the previous highest score by a New Zealander of 299, scored by Martin Crowe against Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in 1991.

Crowe’s knock formed the heart of New Zealand’s previous highest score of 4-671, which was also the previous second-innings world record.

A large, expectant crowd gathered at the ground on a cloudy, cool morning – encouraged by New Zealand Cricket halving the price of entry.

Resuming on 281, McCullum took his time to get within sight of the landmark before late-cutting seamer Zaheer Khan for four in the 11th over of the day.

He greeted a prolonged standing ovation with both arms raised.

The crowd saluted him again two ball later when he was caught behind off Khan, ending an innings that lasted 559 balls and 774 minutes – the eighth-longest in Test history. He struck 32 fours and four sixes.

The other batsman to fall was Tim Southee (11) to Khan, who recorded the best figures of 5-170.

Ishant Sharma, who took 6-51 in New Zealand’s first innings of 192, claimed 0-164 in the second.

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