18 Feb 2014

Draw hands NZ the series

6:44 pm on 18 February 2014

Brendon McCullum's triple Test century has led the New Zealand cricketers to a 1-0 Test series win over India, after the second and final match petered out to a draw late on the last day at Wellington's Basin Reserve.

The two teams shook hands with 15 overs of play remaining after Virat Kohli scored his sixth Test century, with the star batsman 105 not out and India 166 for three, still 269 runs short of overtaking the Black Caps' biggest-ever Test innings of 680 for eight.

That came largely thanks to skipper McCullum's triple Test ton - the country's first ever.

The draw also means New Zealand climb up to seventh in the ICC rankings.

And it keeps India winless on their tour in both the one day and Test series - the tourists arrived as the number one ODI side and number two in Tests.

At tea India were 90 for three at tea, chasing an unlikely 435 runs for victory. Two quick wickets fell in four balls straight after lunch, when India were 10 without loss.

Shikhar Darwan was snared leg before wicket for two by Trent Boult, followed shortly after by Murali Vijay, caught in the slips for seven off Tim Southee.

Cheteshwar Pujara followed towards tea, caught behind for 17 off Southee.

Kohli also clearly edged one behind when he was on 15 but was ruled not out, while Tim Southee couldn't hold a difficult catch off Rohit Sharma when he was on nine.

McCullum's record-breaking innings ended shortly after his milestone when he was caught behind for 302.

Jimmy Neesham finished unbeaten on 137, for a century on Test debut. Neil Wagner was not out at the other end for two.