Related Links : New Zealand Vs India, 2nd Test Scorecard | India in New Zealand 2008/09
Team India is in trouble at 79 for 3 in reply to New Zealand’s mammoth first innings total of 619 for 9 declared. India has lost both its openers – Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir along with the night watchman Ishant Sharma. The visitors would now heavily depend on the Big Three – Dravid, Sachin and Laxman to bat them out to safety in this match. It was a great day for the Kiwis thanks to Jesse Ryder’s double century which was followed up by Brendon McCullum’s century.
Morning Session: India continued to be kept at bay
Jesse Ryder went on with his solid defensive technique to guide the Kiwis to 448 for 5 in 117 overs at lunch. The Kiwis collected 97 runs in the session for the loss of only James Franklin who was run out in the 111th over. Franklin by then had helped himself to 52 (from 122 balls with 7 fours) which was quite a slow knock considering that he had come in at 294 for 4. Ryder remained unbeaten on 191 and along with him is the aggressive McCullum who has got 14.
Afternoon Session: New Zealand inch towards 600
The afternoon session saw the Indian bowlers and fielders going through their motions. Jesse Ryder (201 from 328 balls with 24 fours and a six) went past his maiden double century and moments after that dragged a Zaheer Khan delivery onto the stumps. The Kiwis though continued to clinch the opportunity with both hands on the flat wicket and Brendon McCullum reaped the benefit by smashing his 3rd test hundred, this was his first century against a quality team like India. The Kiwis collected 144 runs in 33 overs with McCullum moving onto 103 and Vettori continuing to dominate the Indians with a score of 43. They ended the afternoon session at 592 for 6 in 150 overs.
Final Session: India lose openers to rash shots
The Kiwis eventually declared their innings at 619 for 9 having battered for nearly 155 overs. Brendon McCullum finished with 115 from 140 balls with 13 fours and Skipper Daniel Vettori with 55 from 72 balls before they both got out. The real fun started when the two aggressive openers – Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir set off the Indian reply. They had just 23 overs to see through but had made a complete mess of that through their rash shots. First it was Virender Sehwag who slogged Vettori for a huge six over mid wicket and not content with that went for another one. This time the bowler, Vettori was clever enough as he held the ball back in the air and bowled it wider to force an edge to the keeper. Sehwag wasted a potentially good innings ending up with 34 (from 25 balls with 5 fours and a six). Like Sehwag, Gambhir (16 from 53 balls) threw his wicket away by jumping down the track and hitting Jeetan Patel straight to mid on.
India lost nightwatchman Ishant Sharma just before close when he got caught on the pad playing along the wrong line to Daniel Vettori. The only positive aspect for India was that of Rahul Dravid batting well for his 21.