Gautam Gambhir batted for almost 11 hours and VVS Laxman stroked his 14th Test century to ensure India secured a draw in the second Test against New Zealand in Napier on Monday.
India, forced to follow on after being bowled out for 305, declared their second innings closed at 476 for four.
With New Zealand needing 163 to win in less than 17 overs, both captains agreed to call the match off.
Laxman was unbeaten on 124 and Yuvraj Singh was 54 not out for India, who lead the three-match series 1-0 after a 10-wicket victory in the Hamilton Test.
A look at the few milestones that India create enroute to saving the Napier Test.
Longest innings played by India
India batted for 1080 balls (180 overs) in the second innings of the Napier Test.
This was only the eighth instance of India facing 1,000 balls in second innings of a Test. The last such instance was also against New Zealand at Mohali in 1999-00.
The details:
Balls | Total | Opponent | Venue | Season | Result |
1256 | 510 | v England | Leeds | 1967 | Lost |
1254 | 438-7d | v New Zealand | Kolkata | 1955-56 | Drawn |
1201 | 362-7d | v West Indies | Port of Spain | 1952-53 | Drawn |
1186 | 427 | v West Indies | Port of Spain | 1970-71 | Drawn |
1132 | 445 | v Australia | Adelaide | 1977-78 | Lost |
1113 | 187 | v West Indies | Bridgetown | 1961-62 | Lost |
1098 | 505-3d | v New Zealand | Mohali | 1999-00 | Drawn |
1080 | 476-4 | v New Zealand | Napier | 2008-09 | Drawn |
1068 | 444 | v West Indies | Kingston | 1952-53 | Drawn |
1068 | 657-7d | v Australia | Kolkata | 2000-01 | Won |
1023 | 465 | v Pakistan | Lahore | 1978-79 | Lost |
Longest innings by Indian batsmen :
Opener Gambhir batted for 642 minutes (10 hours 42 minutes) in India's second innings of Napier Test.
He provided only the 11th instance of an Indian batting for more than 10 hours in an innings. Gambhir's performance is the seventh best overall and third best in an away Test.
The details:
Mins | Batsman | Score | Opponent | Venue | Season |
740 | R Dravid | 270 | v Pakistan | Rawalpindi | 2003-04 |
708 | SM Gavaskar | 172 | v England | Bangalore | 1981-82 |
673 | NS Sidhu | 201 | v West Indies | Port of Spain | 1996-97 |
671 | AD Gaekwad | 201 | v Pakistan | Jalandhar | 1983-84 |
644 | SM Gavaskar | 236* | v West Indies | Chennai | 1983-84 |
643 | GR Viswanath | 222 | v England | Chennai | 1981-82 |
642 | G Gambhir | 137 | v New Zealand | Napier | 2008-09 |
631 | VVS Laxman | 281 | v Australia | Kolkata | 2000-01 |
629 | R Dravid | 217 | v England | The Oval | 2002 |
613 | SR Tendulkar | 241* | v Australia | Sydney | 2003-04 |
608 | VG Kambli | 224 | v England | Mumbai | 1992-93 |
Highest totals after following-on:
India's 476 for four in the second innings of Napier Test is their third highest in a Test after they were forced to follow-on.
The details:
Score | Opponent | Venue | Season | Result (for India) |
657-7d | Australia | Calcutta | 2000-01 | Won-171 runs |
510 | England | Leeds | 1967 | Lost- 6 wkts |
476-4d | New Zealand | Napier | 2008-09 | Drawn |
463-5d | New Zealand | Mumbai Brabourne | 1964-65 | Drawn |
422 | West Indies | Port-of-Spain | 1961-62 | Lost-7 wkts |