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New Zealand pulled off a competitive performance on the second day of the 1st Test Match at Ahmedabad by making the Indian batsmen crawl and eventually keep the total down to 487. However, they lost two wickets cheaply to stay on the backfoot in this Test Match at 69 for 2 by close.
It wasn’t a good day for the Indian batting as they could add up only 158 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in two full sessions. New Zealand’s Skipper Daniel Vettori who is playing his 100th Test match led from the front taking four wickets while toiling hard to bowl 54.5 overs. Vettori bowled a dozen maidens while conceding only 118 runs. India were 410 for 7 when they lost their last recognized batsman – Skipper MS Dhoni but could stretch their total to nearly 500 because of a heroic 69 from Harbhajan Singh.
The first session was controlled by the overnight batsmen – Tendulkar and Laxman but about thirty minutes before lunch, the twist came with three big wickets going down. First was Tendulkar (40 from 133 balls with 5 fours) who jumped out of his crease but could only give a simple return catch to Jeetan Patel. It was the end of a 66-run stand with Laxman. After Tendulkar, Suresh Raina (3) fell cheaply after playing a backfoot drive off debutant Kane Williamson too early to spoon a catch to extra covers. It was a maiden Test wicket for Williamson who bowls part time off breaks.
Just at the stroke of lunch, VVS Laxman (40 from 105 balls with 4 fours) failed to stretch forward and got hit on the back pad by a sharp turner from Jeetan Patel to be given out lbw. At lunch, India were reduced to 392 for 6. There was a quick wicket after lunch when MS Dhoni (10) was caught bat pad at short leg off Vettori. Immediately Zaheer Khan (1) perished as well when he went back to a full ball from Vettoti to get bowled. India didn’t fold up quickly after that as Pragyan Ojha lasted 59 balls to help Harbhajan Singh smash his way towards a 8th half century.
The Indian innings was all over by Tea with Pragyan Ojha going back to a full ball from Jeetan Patel to get lbw and it was Harbhajan Singh getting caught behind after under edging a cut shot off Vettori. Harbhajan’s knock contained 5 fours and 3 sixes.
India picked up two Kiwis wickets in the 28 overs before stumps on the second day. In the 3rd over, left handed Tim McIntosh (0) tried to sway away but a Zaheer Khan rising delivery followed him and kept low to kiss the glove and fly to the keeper. In the 10th over, BJ Watling (6) failed to get his frontpad across and got bowled by a turning ball from Pragyan Ojha which pitched around middle to hit the off stump. The visitors staged a mini fightback by stumps through the experienced pair of Brendon McCullum (38* from 75 balls with 7 fours) and Ross Taylor (18 from 61 balls with 3 fours). By the close of play, Zaheer Khan got the ball to reverse swing and that will be the key for the Indians on the third day’s play.