Nagpur November 23:
New Zealand were left staring defeat in the face after Indian declared on a mammoth 566 for eight in their first innings on the third day of final Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium in Jamtha here.
By close of play on the third day, New Zealand had reached 24 for one in their second innings after conceding a first innings lead of 373. New Zealand still require a further 349 runs to make India bat again with having already lost opener Tim McIntosh for eight with Harbhajan trapping him in front, and Brendon McCullum (15 batting) and night watchman Gareth Hopkins (1 batting) holding fort for the Kiwis.
The hosts batting fired on all cylinders with Rahul Dravid falling nine short of a double hundred, while captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni fell two runs agonisingly short of his hundred. Dravid's marathon knock stretched 573 minutes as he hit 21 boundaries in 396 balls, before he holed out at long-on off part-time spinner Kane Williamson.
Dhoni and Dravid played a huge role in stretching India's lead as the duo added 193 runs in 54.3 overs for the sixth wicket. Dhoni, who was struggling with cramps, was caught and bowled by Daniel Vettori for 98, laced with 12 fours and a six in his 156-ball knock. 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 by 12 fours and a six.
The Indian captain slammed McKay for a hat-trick of boundaries as the hosts 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. Dhoni 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. New Zealand started the day well with three quick wickets, including overnight batsman Sachin Tendulkar who was caught behind for 61 off 129 balls off debutant Andy McKay. 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.
In the morning, Tendulkar once again failed to reach his century, which would have been the 50th Test ton for the little master, falling in the second over of the day after adding four runs to his overnight score of 57. Tendulkar was caught behind by wicketkeeper Hopkins to become debutant Andy McKay's first wicket in international cricket. The Kiwis then tried to pepper 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, however, perished cheaply when he was beaten by a full incoming delivery from Martin and was bowled for 12. New Zealand captain Vettori then got a wicket with his first delivery of the day when he had 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.
New Zealand were left staring defeat in the face after Indian declared on a mammoth 566 for eight in their first innings on the third day of final Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium in Jamtha here.
By close of play on the third day, New Zealand had reached 24 for one in their second innings after conceding a first innings lead of 373. New Zealand still require a further 349 runs to make India bat again with having already lost opener Tim McIntosh for eight with Harbhajan trapping him in front, and Brendon McCullum (15 batting) and night watchman Gareth Hopkins (1 batting) holding fort for the Kiwis.
The hosts batting fired on all cylinders with Rahul Dravid falling nine short of a double hundred, while captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni fell two runs agonisingly short of his hundred. Dravid's marathon knock stretched 573 minutes as he hit 21 boundaries in 396 balls, before he holed out at long-on off part-time spinner Kane Williamson.
Dhoni and Dravid played a huge role in stretching India's lead as the duo added 193 runs in 54.3 overs for the sixth wicket. Dhoni, who was struggling with cramps, was caught and bowled by Daniel Vettori for 98, laced with 12 fours and a six in his 156-ball knock. 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 by 12 fours and a six.
The Indian captain slammed McKay for a hat-trick of boundaries as the hosts 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. Dhoni 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. New Zealand started the day well with three quick wickets, including overnight batsman Sachin Tendulkar who was caught behind for 61 off 129 balls off debutant Andy McKay. 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.
In the morning, Tendulkar once again failed to reach his century, which would have been the 50th Test ton for the little master, falling in the second over of the day after adding four runs to his overnight score of 57. Tendulkar was caught behind by wicketkeeper Hopkins to become debutant Andy McKay's first wicket in international cricket. The Kiwis then tried to pepper 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, however, perished cheaply when he was beaten by a full incoming delivery from Martin and was bowled for 12. New Zealand captain Vettori then got a wicket with his first delivery of the day when he had 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.
