India v New Zealand, 2nd Test Day Four Highlights

New Zealand still have a lot of work to do when they face India on the fifth day of the second Test at Hyderabad tomorrow. They finished day four at 237/4, 115 runs ahead of India to leave the game in good balance. Brendon McCullum was unbeaten on 124 at stumps, along with Kane Williamson and will be the key on the last day if New Zealand want to save this game or if they want to go for a win. >

McCullum was in prime form throughout the day and dazzled with his brilliant stroke play. He was offered wonderful support by Tim McIntosh, who was happy to defend and leave the scoring to McCullum. The openers put on 125 for the first wicket and the Indians were lucky to get a breakthrough. McIntosh, when he was one short of his fifty, was given out bat-pad, even though it appeared that he hadn’t touched the ball. It was a sad way to depart and McIntosh deserved his half century. >

India were toothless in attack till then but the wicket revived them. They were without Zaheer Khan, who had left the field in his fifth over and did not bowl after that even though he came back. Martin Guptill was involved in a 49 run partnership with McCullum but was dismissed when he went for the cut and only managed to edge it to MS Dhoni.

Ross Taylor was the next man in and he too was sent back in a while and it was a great ball from S Sreesanth that did the trick. The ball was reversing and Taylor completely missed one that came in, only to find his off stump uprooted. Jesse Ryder, who has scored consistently against India then looked to stop the flow of wickets along with McCullum. However, just before the end of the day’s play, Suresh Raina had one to rip and turn away from Ryder, only for the batsman to edge it to Dhoni. It was a vital breakthrough for the Indians.

Earlier in the day, Harbhajan Singh got to his second hundred in two Tests and helped India to a lead of 122 runs. He remained unbeaten on 111 off just 116 balls.

New Zealand have to bat for at least a session to be safe in this game and it will be an interesting final day’s play.