Related Links : New Zealand Vs India, 3rd Test Scorecard | India in New Zealand 2008/09
Zaheer Khan made best use of a responsive pitch at the Basin Reserve in Wellington to take his 7th five-wicket haul which was instrumental in bundling out the Kiwis for just 197. India eased to a first innings lead of 182 runs which became 233 at stumps on Day 2 with still nine second innings wickets intact. Even a batting collapse from the Indians can easily add up another 100 runs which should bat the Kiwis out of the contest and the series.
Morning Session: Zaheer double blow puts Kiwis on backfoot
India could add up just four more runs to its overnight score of 375 for 9 with Ishant Sharma perishing to Chris Martin in the third over of the day’s play. Martin finished with an impressive tally of 4 for 98 in 25.1 overs. The Kiwis had a disastrous start when Martin Guptill played onto his stumps to a Zaheer Khan delivery that climbed onto him. Guptill departed after scoring a brief knock of 17 (from 23 balls) in the 7th over. In the 11th over, Zaheer Khan got a big wicket in the form of the technically good Daniel Flynn (2) with a perfect delivery that angled in and just moved away enough to take the edge. The Kiwis were in trouble at 31 for 2 and by lunch could only go to 64 for 2 in 23 overs. Opener Tim McIntosh on 24 and Ross Taylor on 17 were at the crease for the Kiwis.
Afternoon Session: New Zealand in disastrous position
A fresh Zaheer Khan caused further damage to the homeside after lunch. He used the extra zip off the wicket to his advantage by getting the left handed McIntosh (32 from 74 balls with 6 fours) to fend one to first slip to make it 80 for 3 in the 27th over. Zaheer got his fourth wicket in the 33rd over itself when the inform Jesse Ryder edged his attempted upper cut to Dhoni. It was perhaps the biggest wicket for the Indians as Ryder has been very tight in this series with his shot selection and has hardly put a step wrong. Ryder this time stayed for just 12 balls. In the 42nd over, the only resistance offered by Ross Taylor was broken when he was given caught behind down the legside off Harbhajan Singh. It was a bad decision from Harper though with the ball only brushing the thigh pad but the reaction from Taylor never disputed the appeal. Taylor was superb in his innings of 42 (from 92 balls with 6 fours). New Zealand now lost half their side at 120 for 5.
Harbhajan reduced the score further to 125 for 6 when Franklin swept one flat to squareleg which was followed up by the important wicket of Daniel Vettori, who once again got caught behind off the inside edge, this time the bowler being Ishant Sharma. At Tea, New Zealand were almost buried in the match at 140 for 7 in 50 overs with only McCullum being the ray of hope.
Final Session: India bowl out Kiwis without much fuss
The final session started with Tim Southee deciding to play his shots and he did connect a few really well. Zaheer Khan, who was starting a verbal battled was pulled away in disdain to the mid wicket boundary by Southee but the experienced fast bowler had the last laugh when he got him top edging a pull shot. Zaheer got the better of a provoked pull shot because of the change of angle of coming from over the sticks. Harbhajan Singh then got Brendon McCullum (24) nicking a cut shot to make it 181 for 9 and Munaf Patel cleaned up the innings with a good length delivery to get O’Brien (19) caught behind. Zaheer Khan finished with 5 for 65 in 18 overs and Harbhajan Singh gave good support with 3 for 43 in 23 overs. The lead for India was certainly a winning one at 182 runs.
India started their second innings with a bang through Virender Sehwag but that was cut short by a nasty lifter from Martin that got the dashing batsman to fend it behind. Sehwag had made 12 by then with 3 fours in just a 7-ball stay. India went to stumps without any further damage at 51 for 1 in 16 overs with Gautam Gambhir on 28 (from 45 balls with 4 fours) and Rahul Dravid on 9 (from 44 balls).