Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum is on the verge of becoming the first New Zealand cricketer to score a triple test century.
McCullum scored a second double century in successive tests to lead his side to safety at stumps on day four of the second test against India at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. He was unbeaten on 281, with New Zealand having an overall lead of 325 to be 571 for six at stumps on Monday.
Brendon McCullum acknowledges the crowd at the Basin Reserve on Monday. Photo: AFP
The Black Caps started the day at 252 for five - a lead of just six - but McCullum and B J Watling, who made his third test century, put on a world record stand for the sixth wicket on 352.
When Watling went, debutante Jimmy Neesham stepped up and is on 67 not out. He and McCullum put on 125 for the seventh wicket.
Brendon McCullum now stands at just 19 runs away from surpassing Martin Crowe's 299, set against Sri Lanka in 1991, and posting the highest ever test score for a New Zealand batsman.
McCullum told reporters that Monday has been a great day for New Zealand cricket.
"You dream the dreams and you don't always live them. Today I thought BJ and myself were able to put ourselves in a really strong position and obviously the way N came in as well and created that partnership at the end of the day we're incredibly pleased with where we're at."
New Zealand are now seemingly in a position where they can't lose the match and the series with a day's play remaining.
They won the first test at Eden Park by 40 runs and India had needed to win the game to level the two-match series.
