McCullum’s century gives New Zealand the edge

Brendon McCullum led the New Zealand fightback with a solid unbeaten 124 after Harbhajan Singh helped India get 72 runs in the first innings with his second back-to-back century on the fourth day of second cricket Test here on Monday.
At the close of play at the Rajin Gandhi International Stadium, New Zealand were 237 for four and took an overall lead of 115. McCullum (124) and Kane Williamson (12) were at the crease.
Harbhajan smashed an unbeaten 111, hitting seven fours and seven sixes. He and Sreesanth (24) added 105 runs for the last wicket as India were all out for 472 runs in the first innings in the first hour of the day.
McCullum and his opening partner Tim McIntosh then earsed India’s lead of 122 runs with their first century partnership of the series. The century partnership was New Zealand’s first for the first wicket in six years and it came to an end after McIntosh got an inside edge off his pads to be caught at short leg to substitute Cheteshwar Pujara off spinner Pragyan Ojha shortly before tea.
An attacking McCullum and a watchful McIntosh (49) added 125 runs for the first wicket before the latter got an inside edge off his pads to be caught at short leg off Pragyan Ojha.
Right-handed McCullum used his feet well against the Indian spinners and hit 11 boundaries and three sixes during his unbeaten knock.

Ojha picked up his second wicket when Martin Guptill (18) got an edge to India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps. Part-time spinner Suresh Raina removed the inform Jesse Ryder (12) also caught behind by Dhoni and Ross Taylor (7) was bowled by a good delivery from Sreesanth.
Earlier, Harbhajan became the first No.8 batsman to score consecutive centuries in Test cricket. Resuming at 436 for nine, Harbhajan and Sreesanth lasted 10 overs to add 36 runs in the first hour of the day. Harbhajan, who was unbeaten on his overnight score of 85, hit a massive six off New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori to move from 91 to 97.
Harbhajan then completed his second Test hundred with a single down to deep fine leg off Tim Southee, sparking wild celebrations.