At stumps on the second day at McLean Park, the second Test between these two sides carried an ominously one-sided look. On a dodo-dead pitch, India were hammered to the tune of 619 for 9 - only the third time New Zealand have crossed 600 - after which they lost their openers to utterly irresponsible shots. The script was written by New Zealand on a lifeless track and the central characters were Jesse Ryder, with a maiden double-century, Brendon McCullum, with a stroke-filled ton of his own, and Daniel Vettori, who followed a half-century with two wickets before stumps.
As on day one, partnerships were again the secret of New Zealand's accomplishment on such a track. Ryder added 121 in the morning with James Franklin, then a more sedate 62 with McCullum, after which McCullum and Vettori put on 128 to utterly flounder India. It all appeared a touch too easy for New Zealand, and India didn't seem to have a plan.
India had been frustrated in the first session, but what really flattened them was the interval between lunch and tea. After Ryder was bowled the delivery after raising an excellent double - the first since Stephen Fleming's 262 against South Africa in 2006 - McCullum piled the pain on a cumbersome India and continued an exemplary day's work for the hosts.
The sight of McCullum striding to the middle at 415 for 5 can demoralise the best of sides. Timing the ball with fluency from the start, he kept the tempo by cutting Munaf Patel for four, and then did the same to Harbhajan Singh. Hardly allowing himself time to soak in the magic of his 201, Ryder was bowled next ball attempting an expansive drive. It was truly a splendid innings and if India thought it was a window to break through, they were mistaken
