McCullum's feat and great, the more so for being unexpected, NZ recovery.

Brendon McCullum's 302 -the highest individual innings ever by a New Zealander in a Test match- deserves acknowledgement, indeed high praise,  as a masterpiece of judicious batting, concentration and endurance. He, with considerable support from an obdurate BJ Watling and, as the immediate threat of defeat receded, a more fluent Test debutant Jimmy Neesham, turned the match and series around. 

A draw may have been a bit anticlimactic, but it did give the series to NZ 1-0 and show several things, notably (which we already knew) that India are below par away from home, and that NZ at their best and at home are a formidable force in the long form of the game.

Well done, Black Caps.

<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/feb/18/brendon-mccullum-triple-century-new-zealand-innings?CMP=EMCSPTEML942">Scorecard</a>

Australia coast to match and 2-0 series win

Australia 231 and 8/511 d def New Zealand 264 and 302 (91.1 ov, M Guptill 58, B McCullum 51, M Johnson 6/76) by 176 runs. Australia won series 2-0. T2 D5 at Hamilton

There were few obstacles obstructing Australia on the road to its comfortable match victory and series win. Fifties to Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum and a 45/25b (1x6, 7x4) biffed by Tim Southee saved a bit of Black Cap pride, but nobody could keep Mitchell Johnson (6/73 from 20.1 ov) at bay for long enough to mount a serious challenge.

The series confirmed yet again that New Zealand struggle against the top teams at Test level. They win a session here, a day there but aren't capable of stringing together enough sessions and days to achieve victories. It must be frustrating for their class players like Daniel Vettori, whose 100th Test this was, and Brendon McCullum to see potentially promising situations frittered (or thrown) away.

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Wind drops and NZ revival fizzles out

Australia 5/459 d & 0/106 (P Hughes 86*) def New Zealand 157 & 407 (B McCullum 104, T McIntosh 83, D Vettori 77) by 10 wickets T1 D5 at Wellington

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Ill wind does NZ some good

New Zealand 157 & 6/369 (124.0 ov, B McCullum 94*, T McIntosh 83, D Vettori 77) lead Australia 5/459 dec by 67 runs with 4 second innings wkts remaining, T1 D4 at Wellington.

Scorecard

Cricinfo Bulletin