McCullum's stylish double draws the Test

Brendon McCullum reaped rewards for his hard work on day four, milking a tired bowling unit to get to the third-highest score in second innings in Tests in India. The game itself was headed for a draw the moment Zaheer Khan left the field again after bowling just three overs in the morning session.

When McCullum lost the company of Kane Williamson, though, New Zealand were 223 ahead, and there were 57 overs to go still. For those who hope or fear too much, a collapse could still direct the game towards a result. McCullum and Daniel Vettori, though, took 20 runs off the next four overs to disappoint the hopers and the fearers.

It may have seemed like milking because of the ease with which McCullum got his runs, but he did it with some style and nonchalance. India tried to pack the leg side up and bowled round the wicket, only to see him casually reverse-sweep them for boundaries. They were not exactly reverse-sweeps, he was so confident he just bent the knees half way and guided them past point. His maiden double-hundred he brought up with the McScoop, having scored his last 24 runs off 19 balls. That spell of hitting also included a six over long-off off Pragyan Ojha and two reverse-swept fours off Suresh Raina.

As McCullum's good friend, Chris Gayle, moved assuredly towards a triple-century in Galle, a triple was on here in Hyderabad too. There were 32 overs to go to the start of the mandatory overs, and there was no way New Zealand were going to declare without giving McCullum a go at the highest score by a New Zealander.

Hence started McCullum's charge towards the record books. He reversed-swept another boundary, played the chip over midwicket, crashed Sreesanth back past him, and then cut him furiously to get to 225. This was when Sreesanth achieved slight personal redemption, removing McCullum with a slower legbreak.