<p>Brendon McCullum became the first New Zealand batsman to hit a triple-hundred in Test cricket to take the second cricket Test beyond India’s reach on the morning session of the fifth and final day, in Wellington on Tuesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>McCullum scored a historic 302 on the opening session of day while Jimmy Neesham smashed a century on debut as the hosts declared their second innings at 680 for eight in 210 overs with an overall lead of 434 runs.<br /><br />McCullum struck Zaheer Khan for a four in front of third man to reach the landmark in the 200th over of the Black Caps’s second innings at a packed Basin Reserve.<br /><br />At lunch, India were at 10 for no loss off four overs, chasing an improbable 435 runs for a win. Shikhar Dhawan (2 not out) and Murali Vijay (7 not out) were at the crease.<br /><br />McCullum’s 302 runs overtook Martin Crowe’s 299 scored against Sri Lanka, also at the same ground, in 1991 to become highest individual Test scorer for New Zealand.<br /><br />It was also the third-highest innings by a number five batsman in Test cricket after Michael Clarke’s 329 not out against India in 2012 and Sir Don Bradman’s 304 against England in 1934.<br /><br />McCullum’s effort is also the second-highest individual score in the second innings after Hanif Mohammad’s 337 against West Indies in 1958. Overall he is the 24th Test batsman to hit a triple-hundred, while this is the 28th instance of a triple-hundred being scored.<br /><br />McCullum started the final day of on 281 not out, needing another 19 runs to get to that magical landmark.<br /><br />At the other end was debutant Neesham (67 not out) as New Zealand started from the overnight score of 571 for six under overcast skies.<br /><br />It didn’t matter much as Neesham cut loose almost immediately, while McCullum was more subdued as he took his time.<br /><br />Neesham struck six lusty boundaries early into the day’s play and reached his maiden Test hundred in the 199th over of the innings, facing 124 balls and hitting 15 fours.<br /><br />But the main focus was on McCullum, who joined that exclusive 300-run club in the next over as the entire stadium stood on its feet to salute the historic knock.<br /><br />McCullum, however, didn’t last long thereafter, edging one to Doni off Zaheer. He faced 559 balls and struck 32 fours and four sixes during his monumental innings.<br /><br />Two overs later, Zaheer completed his five-wicket haul, as Tim Southee (11) gave a skier to Cheteshwar Pujara.<br /><br />It was the first time in his 92-Test career that Zaheer had bowled 50 overs in a single innings.<br /><br />New Zealand didn’t declare as anticipated and carried on for a while longer, even as India put on their part-timers. In the end, the Black Caps reached their highest Test innings total overtaking their effort of 671 for four against Sri Lanka in 1991, also at Wellington.<br /><br />Neesham stayed unbeaten on 137, the highest individual score by a batsman on debut batting lower than number seven, beating Azhar Mahmood’s 128 not out against South Africa in 1997. It was also the highest runs scored by a New Zealand batsman on debut, beating <br />Scott Styris’ 107 against West Indies in 2002.<br /><br />For India, Zaheer was the highest wicket-taker in the innings with a haul of five for 170. Mohammad Shami (2/149) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/115) also picked up wickets, while Ishant Sharma (0/164) saw the other side of the coin after picking his career-best figures in the first innings.<br /><br />Rohit Sharma (0/40), Virat Kohli (0/13), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (0/5) and Shikhar Dhawan (0/3) also sent down some overs in this innings.<br /><br />Scoreboard at lunch:<br /><br />New Zealand 1st innings 192<br /><br />India 1st innings 438<br /><br />New Zealand 2nd innings (overnight 252-5)<br /><br />Peter Fulton lbw b Khan 1<br />Hamish Rutherford c Dhoni b Khan 35<br />Kane Williamson c Dhoni b Khan 7<br />Tom Latham c Dhoni b Shami 29<br />Brendon McCullum c Dhoni b Khan 302<br />Corey Anderson c & b Jadeja 2<br />B J Watling lbw b Shami 124<br />Jimmy Neesham batting 67<br /><br />Extras: (B-9, LB-12, W-2, NB-7) 30<br /><br />Total: (for eight wickets; 210 overs) 680<br /><br />Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-27, 3-52, 4-87, 5-94, 6-446, 7-625, 8-639.<br /><br />Bowling: Ishant Sharma 45-4-164-0, Zaheer Khan 51-13-170-5, Mohammed Shami 43-6-149-2, Ravindra Jadeja 52-11-115-1, Rohit Sharma 11-0-40-0, Virat Kohli 6-1-13-0, Mahendra Singh Dhoni 1-0-5-0, Shikhar Dhwan 1-0-3-0.<br /><br />India 2nd innings:<br /><br />Murali Vijay not out 7<br /><br />Shikhar Dhawan not out 2<br /><br />Extras : (NB-1) 1<br />Total: (for no loss in 4 overs) 10<br />Bowling : Boult 2-0-5-0, Southee 2-0-5-0.</p>
<p>Brendon McCullum became the first New Zealand batsman to hit a triple-hundred in Test cricket to take the second cricket Test beyond India’s reach on the morning session of the fifth and final day, in Wellington on Tuesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>McCullum scored a historic 302 on the opening session of day while Jimmy Neesham smashed a century on debut as the hosts declared their second innings at 680 for eight in 210 overs with an overall lead of 434 runs.<br /><br />McCullum struck Zaheer Khan for a four in front of third man to reach the landmark in the 200th over of the Black Caps’s second innings at a packed Basin Reserve.<br /><br />At lunch, India were at 10 for no loss off four overs, chasing an improbable 435 runs for a win. Shikhar Dhawan (2 not out) and Murali Vijay (7 not out) were at the crease.<br /><br />McCullum’s 302 runs overtook Martin Crowe’s 299 scored against Sri Lanka, also at the same ground, in 1991 to become highest individual Test scorer for New Zealand.<br /><br />It was also the third-highest innings by a number five batsman in Test cricket after Michael Clarke’s 329 not out against India in 2012 and Sir Don Bradman’s 304 against England in 1934.<br /><br />McCullum’s effort is also the second-highest individual score in the second innings after Hanif Mohammad’s 337 against West Indies in 1958. Overall he is the 24th Test batsman to hit a triple-hundred, while this is the 28th instance of a triple-hundred being scored.<br /><br />McCullum started the final day of on 281 not out, needing another 19 runs to get to that magical landmark.<br /><br />At the other end was debutant Neesham (67 not out) as New Zealand started from the overnight score of 571 for six under overcast skies.<br /><br />It didn’t matter much as Neesham cut loose almost immediately, while McCullum was more subdued as he took his time.<br /><br />Neesham struck six lusty boundaries early into the day’s play and reached his maiden Test hundred in the 199th over of the innings, facing 124 balls and hitting 15 fours.<br /><br />But the main focus was on McCullum, who joined that exclusive 300-run club in the next over as the entire stadium stood on its feet to salute the historic knock.<br /><br />McCullum, however, didn’t last long thereafter, edging one to Doni off Zaheer. He faced 559 balls and struck 32 fours and four sixes during his monumental innings.<br /><br />Two overs later, Zaheer completed his five-wicket haul, as Tim Southee (11) gave a skier to Cheteshwar Pujara.<br /><br />It was the first time in his 92-Test career that Zaheer had bowled 50 overs in a single innings.<br /><br />New Zealand didn’t declare as anticipated and carried on for a while longer, even as India put on their part-timers. In the end, the Black Caps reached their highest Test innings total overtaking their effort of 671 for four against Sri Lanka in 1991, also at Wellington.<br /><br />Neesham stayed unbeaten on 137, the highest individual score by a batsman on debut batting lower than number seven, beating Azhar Mahmood’s 128 not out against South Africa in 1997. It was also the highest runs scored by a New Zealand batsman on debut, beating <br />Scott Styris’ 107 against West Indies in 2002.<br /><br />For India, Zaheer was the highest wicket-taker in the innings with a haul of five for 170. Mohammad Shami (2/149) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/115) also picked up wickets, while Ishant Sharma (0/164) saw the other side of the coin after picking his career-best figures in the first innings.<br /><br />Rohit Sharma (0/40), Virat Kohli (0/13), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (0/5) and Shikhar Dhawan (0/3) also sent down some overs in this innings.<br /><br />Scoreboard at lunch:<br /><br />New Zealand 1st innings 192<br /><br />India 1st innings 438<br /><br />New Zealand 2nd innings (overnight 252-5)<br /><br />Peter Fulton lbw b Khan 1<br />Hamish Rutherford c Dhoni b Khan 35<br />Kane Williamson c Dhoni b Khan 7<br />Tom Latham c Dhoni b Shami 29<br />Brendon McCullum c Dhoni b Khan 302<br />Corey Anderson c & b Jadeja 2<br />B J Watling lbw b Shami 124<br />Jimmy Neesham batting 67<br /><br />Extras: (B-9, LB-12, W-2, NB-7) 30<br /><br />Total: (for eight wickets; 210 overs) 680<br /><br />Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-27, 3-52, 4-87, 5-94, 6-446, 7-625, 8-639.<br /><br />Bowling: Ishant Sharma 45-4-164-0, Zaheer Khan 51-13-170-5, Mohammed Shami 43-6-149-2, Ravindra Jadeja 52-11-115-1, Rohit Sharma 11-0-40-0, Virat Kohli 6-1-13-0, Mahendra Singh Dhoni 1-0-5-0, Shikhar Dhwan 1-0-3-0.<br /><br />India 2nd innings:<br /><br />Murali Vijay not out 7<br /><br />Shikhar Dhawan not out 2<br /><br />Extras : (NB-1) 1<br />Total: (for no loss in 4 overs) 10<br />Bowling : Boult 2-0-5-0, Southee 2-0-5-0.</p>