India's historic leap on Kiwi land
Sunday, 5 April 2009
India 379 and 51 for 1 lead New Zealand 197 (Taylor 42, Zaheer 5-65) by 233 runs
WELLINGTON, Apr 4(AFP): India took a big step towards winning their first Test series in New Zealand since 1968 after racking up a 233-run lead early in their second innings of the third Test here today.
India were on 51 for one at stumps on the second day after dismissing New Zealand for 197 on the second day in reply to India's first innings total of 379.
Gautam Gambhir was unbeaten at stumps on 28 with Rahul Dravid not out on nine. Typically aggressive opener Virender Sehwag was the only wicket to fall, caught by Ross Taylor at first slip after a short ball from Chris Martin seamed into him and ballooned off his glove.
Pace bowler Zaheer Khan did most of the damage to New Zealand in their first innings, taking five for 65 with a mixture of swinging full pitched balls and a barrage of shorter deliveries.
Offspinner Harbhajan Singh was also one of India's heroes, bowling 23 consecutive overs at a scoring rate of less than two an over to end with three for 43.
Wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni also played a captain's role, taking six catches behind the stumps. Khan mixed good length swinging deliveries with short lifting balls to unsettle the New Zealand batsmen on a pitch which had been expected to be ideal for batting.
New Zealand's plan late Friday as India's innings came near an end had been to bat for a day and a half to build a lead that could set them up for a series squaring victory.
WELLINGTON, Apr 4(AFP): India took a big step towards winning their first Test series in New Zealand since 1968 after racking up a 233-run lead early in their second innings of the third Test here today.
India were on 51 for one at stumps on the second day after dismissing New Zealand for 197 on the second day in reply to India's first innings total of 379.
Gautam Gambhir was unbeaten at stumps on 28 with Rahul Dravid not out on nine. Typically aggressive opener Virender Sehwag was the only wicket to fall, caught by Ross Taylor at first slip after a short ball from Chris Martin seamed into him and ballooned off his glove.
Pace bowler Zaheer Khan did most of the damage to New Zealand in their first innings, taking five for 65 with a mixture of swinging full pitched balls and a barrage of shorter deliveries.
Offspinner Harbhajan Singh was also one of India's heroes, bowling 23 consecutive overs at a scoring rate of less than two an over to end with three for 43.
Wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni also played a captain's role, taking six catches behind the stumps. Khan mixed good length swinging deliveries with short lifting balls to unsettle the New Zealand batsmen on a pitch which had been expected to be ideal for batting.
New Zealand's plan late Friday as India's innings came near an end had been to bat for a day and a half to build a lead that could set them up for a series squaring victory.