McCullum leads New Zealand's quest for safety

Brendon McCullum led New Zealand's quest for safety with his third century in five Tests this year, but was also looking for a man to stand with him for long enough, after India kept their chances of a win alive with three wickets in the long final session.

McCullum used his dazzling strokeplay to spread the fields, an area where India were happy to oblige, and then defended resolutely. When New Zealand started their innings inside the first hour of the day, trailing by 122, it was obvious they were the only team that could lose. Yet McCullum went about the job in a positive fashion against a Zaheer Khan-less India, wiping off the deficit in 35 overs, posting with Tim McIntosh New Zealand's first century opening stand since June 2004.

McCullum's calculated approach of attacking the new bowlers early made the job easier for McIntosh, who - like in first innings - didn't mind staying inconspicuous. His plan worked the best against Sreesanth, whom he cover-drove and upper-cut for boundaries in his first two overs, posting the first double-digit opening stand for New Zealand in five attempts. In Sreesanth's third over, he top-edged a pull from outside off, but it landed safe, the closest India came to dismissing him. Sreesanth began trying too hard, bowling three no-balls in the first spell of four overs, cutting the side crease once. Both openers then negotiated him with ease.

McCullum hit the fourth ball he faced from Harbhajan for a straight six, and the fifth and sixth from Ojha for a six and a four. Just before tea, though, with nothing happening for India, they got a lucky break through McIntosh's wicket. Post the break, McCullum remained in control, sweeping the spinners all over the park even as Zaheer served time on the field to become eligible to bowl again. In one Harbhajan over, McCullum took four and two with reverse-sweeps, a two with the powerful conventional sweep, and a four with the paddled variety. Two Harbhajan overs later, he brought up his hundred with a cut in front of square to beat the deep point, off 132 balls, in a team total of 174.

At the other end, though, Guptill looked to cut fullish deliveries once too often and edged Ojha. Sreesanth delivered an inspired spell with the old ball, reversing through a small gap between Ross Taylor's bat and pad. At three down with just 65 runs in New Zealand's credit, McCullum took more responsibility on himself, getting extra-cautious, determined to play out the day.