1st Test: NZ 69/2 at stumps, Ind 487

Agencies

Ahmedabad, 05 November 2010: New Zealand were 69 for two at stumps on day two of the first Test, still 418 runs behind India’s first innings score of 487 at the Sardar Patel Stadium here on Friday.

 

Brendon McCullum on 38 and Ross Taylor on 18 were in the middle at the close of the day’s play. For India, Zaheer Khan and Pragyan Ojha picked up a wicket each. While the pacer sent back Tim McIntosh for a duck in the third over, the spinner bowled Bradley Watling for six runs. McCullum and Taylor have added 42 runs for the third wicket.

 

After a run-feast on day one on Thursday where India scored 329 for the loss of three wickets, the second day was a more closely-contested affair between the bat and the ball with 227 runs being scored for the loss of nine wickets.

 

But the day belonged to Harbhajan Singh, who scored a career-best 69 to steer India to 487. The tailender smashed three sixes and five fours in his 97-ball knock to frustrate the New Zealand attack, which had reduced India to 412-8 shortly into the second session.

 

 

Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori finished with the best figures of 4-118, sending back captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (10), Zaheer Khan (one) and Harbhajan after accounting for the wicket of Virender Sehwag (173) on Thursday.

 

Dhoni was running a fever and underwent tests for malaria, according to the local media manager. Harbhajan smashed Vettori for a four and six and shared 66 runs for the ninth wicket with Pragyan Ojha (11), who became the third victim of off-spinner Jeetan Patel.

 

New Zealand fought back in the last 25 minutes before lunch to pick three quick Indian wickets, including that of Sachin Tendulkar for 40.

 

Tendulkar offered a simple return catch to Patel, disappointing a sizeable crowd that was expecting to celebrate his 50th Test ton on Diwali. VVS Laxman (40) was trapped leg before by Patel after he had shared 66 runs for the fourth wicket with Tendulkar.

 

Debutant Kane Williamson picked up his first Test wicket when Suresh Raina (three) offered a sharp chance to Brendon McCullum at extra cover shortly before the lunch break.

 

The Indians were slow off the blocks after resuming at the overnight 329-3, putting on 63 runs in two hours of play in the first session.

 

Tendulkar, who scored the first of his six double centuries against New Zealand at the same venue in 1999, was uncharacteristically subdued during his nearly three-hour stay at the crease. He hit five fours in his 133-ball knock.

 

New Zealand were set back by a groin injury to debutant paceman Hamish Bennett, who did not come out to bowl on Friday.