Nagpur November 23:
Rahul Dravid and Mahendra Singh Dhoni cracked contrasting centuries as India stretched their lead to a massive 317 runs on the third day of the first Test against New Zealand being played at the VCA stadium at Jamtha here.
By tea, India had progressed to 510 for five wickets, with the pair of Dhoni and Dravid batting out the whole post lunch session without losing a wicket as they took their unbeaten sixth wicket partnership to 182. India now have a first innings lead of 317 with Dravid batting on 166 and Dhoni unbeaten on 95 at the tea interval.
Dravid was solid at one end giving nothing away to the Kiwi bowlers holding up one end, while Dhoni at the other end adopted a positive approach as he stroked an unbeaten 95 in 157 deliveries, laced with 12 fours and a six. Dhoni slammed McKay for a hat-trick of boundaries as India looked to get a move along. He then got another boundary off Southee in the next over as the hosts reached 354 for five in 101 overs to stretch their lead to 161 runs.
The Indian captain then pulled a short delivery from his Kiwi counterpart Vettori to the midwicket fence for his fifth boundary of the innings. At the other end, Dravid was content to play out the overs and not lose his wicket as his captain went on to flay the opposition bowlers as India stretched their lead past 300 runs. Earlier, New Zealand started the day well with three quick wickets, including overnight batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who fell in the second over of the day.
Tendulkar, who made 61 off 129 balls, was caught behind by wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins to become debutant Andy McKay's first wicket in international cricket. Tendulkar thus once again missed his chance to score his 50th Test ton. VVS Laxman (12) was beaten all ends up by a full incoming delivery from Chris Martin, while Suresh Raina WAS caught at short leg off Daniel Vettori for three.
The Kiwis dealt a big blow in the second over of the day, when Tendulkar was dismissed for 61after having added just four runs to his overnight score. The veteran batsman was beaten all ends up by debutant Andy McKay, who got one to bounce sharply and leave the batsman to take the outside edge. Tendulkar, who batted patiently as he hit just eight boundaries in his 129-ball knock, added 104 runs in 39.2 overs for the third wicket with Dravid.
The Kiwis also tried to pepper VVS Laxman with short deliveries at the start of his innings. He left a few short deliveries before pulling one over midwicket for a boundary and take India past the 300-run mark. In the same over, he drove McKay for a delightful four through the cover region. Laxman perished cheaply when he was beaten by a full incoming delivery from Martin and was bowled for 12.
However, New Zealand kept fighting back with regular wickets. Captain Daniel Vettori got a wicket with his first delivery of the day when he had Suresh Raina caught at short leg for three. The young left-hander has endured a poor series with the bat, having scored 26 runs in four innings at an average of 6.50.
Rahul Dravid and Mahendra Singh Dhoni cracked contrasting centuries as India stretched their lead to a massive 317 runs on the third day of the first Test against New Zealand being played at the VCA stadium at Jamtha here.
By tea, India had progressed to 510 for five wickets, with the pair of Dhoni and Dravid batting out the whole post lunch session without losing a wicket as they took their unbeaten sixth wicket partnership to 182. India now have a first innings lead of 317 with Dravid batting on 166 and Dhoni unbeaten on 95 at the tea interval.
Dravid was solid at one end giving nothing away to the Kiwi bowlers holding up one end, while Dhoni at the other end adopted a positive approach as he stroked an unbeaten 95 in 157 deliveries, laced with 12 fours and a six. Dhoni slammed McKay for a hat-trick of boundaries as India looked to get a move along. He then got another boundary off Southee in the next over as the hosts reached 354 for five in 101 overs to stretch their lead to 161 runs.
The Indian captain then pulled a short delivery from his Kiwi counterpart Vettori to the midwicket fence for his fifth boundary of the innings. At the other end, Dravid was content to play out the overs and not lose his wicket as his captain went on to flay the opposition bowlers as India stretched their lead past 300 runs. Earlier, New Zealand started the day well with three quick wickets, including overnight batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who fell in the second over of the day.
Tendulkar, who made 61 off 129 balls, was caught behind by wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins to become debutant Andy McKay's first wicket in international cricket. Tendulkar thus once again missed his chance to score his 50th Test ton. VVS Laxman (12) was beaten all ends up by a full incoming delivery from Chris Martin, while Suresh Raina WAS caught at short leg off Daniel Vettori for three.
The Kiwis dealt a big blow in the second over of the day, when Tendulkar was dismissed for 61after having added just four runs to his overnight score. The veteran batsman was beaten all ends up by debutant Andy McKay, who got one to bounce sharply and leave the batsman to take the outside edge. Tendulkar, who batted patiently as he hit just eight boundaries in his 129-ball knock, added 104 runs in 39.2 overs for the third wicket with Dravid.
The Kiwis also tried to pepper VVS Laxman with short deliveries at the start of his innings. He left a few short deliveries before pulling one over midwicket for a boundary and take India past the 300-run mark. In the same over, he drove McKay for a delightful four through the cover region. Laxman perished cheaply when he was beaten by a full incoming delivery from Martin and was bowled for 12.
However, New Zealand kept fighting back with regular wickets. Captain Daniel Vettori got a wicket with his first delivery of the day when he had Suresh Raina caught at short leg for three. The young left-hander has endured a poor series with the bat, having scored 26 runs in four innings at an average of 6.50.
