Gambhir ton keeps Kiwis on backfoot
Monday, 6 April 2009
WELLINGTON, Apr 5 (AFP): Opener Gautam Gambhir scored a magnificent 167 to tighten India's stranglehold on New Zealand in the third and deciding Test here Sunday.
India were 531 runs ahead of New Zealand and had reached 349 for five in their second innings when bad light stopped play on the third day at the Basin Reserve.
Gambhir and Rahul Dravid ended any hopes of a New Zealand comeback by putting on 170 runs in a second-wicket partnership which ended soon after lunch with Dravid's dismissal for a patient 60. But after the cheap dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar for nine much to dismay of the Indian fans-veteran VVS Laxman joined Gambhir to add another 106 runs for the fourth wicket.
India were 531 runs ahead of New Zealand and had reached 349 for five in their second innings when bad light stopped play on the third day at the Basin Reserve.
Gambhir and Rahul Dravid ended any hopes of a New Zealand comeback by putting on 170 runs in a second-wicket partnership which ended soon after lunch with Dravid's dismissal for a patient 60. But after the cheap dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar for nine much to dismay of the Indian fans-veteran VVS Laxman joined Gambhir to add another 106 runs for the fourth wicket.