Related Links : New Zealand Vs India, 1st Test Scorecard | India in New Zealand 2008/09
India had a perfect day at the Seddon Park in Hamilton when it got New Zealand down to 75 for 3 having secured a strong first innings lead of 241. The Indian first innings today revolved around Sachin Tendulkar who converted his 70 into a bigger score of 160 while the icing on the cake was provided by a quick fire half century from Zaheer Khan and the final ball wicket from Munaf Patel.
Morning Session: India make good progress past 279
The visitors had a busy start this morning thanks to some inconsistent bowling from the Kiwis. Sachin Tendulkar batted with better freedom than before and Yuvraj played his natural game of playing some hard hitting shots. Runs came at a good pace and it was only one mistake that halted a potentially threatening partnership when Yuvraj Singh (22 from 50 balls with 4 fours) misjudged an Martin inswinger. Yuvraj had offered no shot to a delivery that came back with the angle from round the sticks which went onto take the off stump. India were sitting pretty despite that at 314 for 5. Skipper MS Dhoni finally arrived in the 98th over and he played the perfect foil to Sachin. Dhoni batted with utmost care in what was only his maiden test innings in New Zealand, he was happy to just lend support to Sachin. The little master by lunch had moved onto 135 (his 42nd Test hundred) and Dhoni got to a hard-working 22 while India moved onto 348 for 5 in 123 overs. India had resumed at an overnight score of 278 for 4 n 90.5 overs this morning.
Afternoon Session: India records its highest ever total in NZ to secure 241-run lead
The post lunch session saw no hurry from Tendulkar and Dhoni yet the runs came freely as the bowling fell flat. The Kiwis managed to get both Dhoni and Tendulkar in succession but that didn’t help them in bowling out India quickly. First Dhoni (47 from 123 balls with 7 fours) fell gloving a hook shot off O’Brien and minutes later Sachin Tendulkar (160 from 260 balls with 26 fours) finally fell after playing right across the line to a rising delivery from the same bowler. The pair of Tendulkar and Dhoni had put on a crucial 115 runs for the 6th wicket in about 36 overs. Zaheer Khan played a cameo after that, slashing the ball over the off side at will to help India move from 443 for 7 to 520 all out! Zaheer remained undefeated on 51 with 8 fours in just 46 balls.
Final Session: New Zealand fightback doesn’t last the distance
New Zealand had a terrible start in their second essay when the left handed Tim McIntosh slashed a Zaheer Khan yorker in the first over to the slips where Sachin Tendulkar took a forward diving catch. Tendulkar was confident that he had held the catch cleanly and the Umpire Ian Gould had no issues at all in agreeing with Sachin’s claims. However the TV replays were inconclusive and created enough doubts that the ball might have just grazed the grass before landing under Sachin’s fingers. A referral asked to the third umpire would have certainly given the benefit of doubt to the batsman which happens most of the time because of the visual illusion caused by the TV Cameras that beam the pictures from some height onto the ground. For the record, Tim McIntosh became the 200th wicket for Zaheer Khan in Test Cricket. Sachin Tendulkar had to get off the field after the catch as he had cut his nail in the process which is just not a big injury to worry about.
After that bad start, the Kiwis fought back through the talented Guptill and the stylish left hander Daniel Flynn. The Indian pacers were defied by some excellent strokeplay coupled with solid defensive shots. Just when the two youngsters were stroking their way to glory came the breakthrough much against the run of play. It was in the 26th over when Martin Guptill in a lazy manner failed to keep his drive along the ground to a Harbhajan flighted off break to be caught at mid off. Guptill was in the peak of his batting skill having struck 7 fours and a six in an innings of 46 from 86 balls. Kyle Mills who was sent in as the night watchman was dismissed lbw to a pacy inswinger from Munaf Patel in the final ball of the day’s play to reduce the score to 75 for 3 in 31 overs. Daniel Flynn is unbeaten on 24 from 78 balls (with 3 fours). The Kiwis trail by 166 runs with just 7 wickets in hand, they will have to bat really well to take the match in the fifth and final day.