INDIA’S Harbhajan Singh became the first number eight batsman in the world to score centuries in successive matches during the second Test against New Zealand today.
The feisty tailender rattled up seven sixes and seven fours in his unbeaten 111-run knock off 114 balls to take India’s first-innings to 472 for a lead of 122 runs before New Zealand reached 37-0 at lunch.
Tim McIntosh was batting on 18 with Brendon McCullum (15) at the break on the fourth day of the match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.
Harbhajan notched up his maiden Test century last week to help India salvage a draw in the opener against the Kiwis in Ahmedabad.
His feat surpasses the record of New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori who scored 140 and 99 batting at number eight in back-to-back Tests last year.
The Punjab player added 105 runs for the last wicket with Shanthakumaran Sreesanth who also defied the New Zealand attack for close to two hours before being trapped leg before wicket off Vettori.
Sreesanth made 24 off 71 balls with three fours.
It was Harbhajan again who dominated the proceedings in the morning session, lofting Vettori for a straight six and following it up with another off Tim Southee (3-119) that landed in the stands.
Vettori picked his 19th five-wicket haul in Tests and finished as the most successful New Zealand bowler with figures of 5-135.
The visitors started off confidently in their second innings with McCullum and first-innings centurion McIntosh negotiating 13 testing overs with ease.
India’s pace spearhead Zaheer Khan left the field midway through his fifth over after apparently picking an injury and the remaining three balls were bowled by left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.
