Second Test, Hyderabad (day two):
New Zealand 350 v India 178-2
Match scorecard
 Harbhajan Singh quickly ran through New Zealand's lower order |
India appeared well set after two days of the second Test against New Zealand as Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag put in good performances in Hyderabad. The Black Caps, 258-4 overnight, were restricted to 350 all out as Harbhajan (4-76) took the last four wickets. India then hit 178-2 in reply with Sehwag cracking 96 and Gautam Gambhir making a significantly slower 54. Both fell in the final 45 minutes, but it was India's day, and they will expect to establish a healthy lead. "It was sad to see Sehwag miss a century. But he is a team man and is never bothered about his personal milestones. "He has set the tone of our innings with his aggressive shot-making," Harbhajan said afterwards. "We will now look to rack up a good first innings total and put pressure on New Zealand." The hosts managed to bowl out New Zealand shortly after lunch, with only Jesse Ryder able to hold the visitors' innings steady with his 120-ball 70 as India's bowlers improved on their lacklustre performance from day one. Ryder continued his gritty display against a refreshed Indian bowling attack, smashing Zaheer for a boundary off the second delivery of the day. But the left-armer was soon in business, trapping Gareth Hopkins lbw with an inswinger and also removing Kane Williamson cheaply.  | 606: DEBATE |
Zaheer went on to finish with 4-69, but it was Harbhajan who took over as India's chief bowling weapon. Daniel Vettori fell lbw to the off-spinner and then Ryder also departed a few overs later thanks to VVS Laxman's slip catch. Tim Southee's attempted slog off Harbhajan a few minutes before lunch ended in an easy stumping, and the off-spinner wrapped up the innings after the break, with Chris Martin caught at slip. Having seized the initiative, Sehwag and Gambhir were in no mood to let New Zealand back into the contest. At tea, they had established a platform by taking India to 62-0 in 18 overs, Gambhir on 28 and Sehwag 29. And while the left-handed Gambhir continued to accrue steadily early in the final session, Sehwag, the natural aggressor, took charge. He had 15 boundaries and one six to his name when an ugly slog against Vettori resulted in him being clean bowled. In the next over Gambhir attempted a leg-glance against Southee and was caught behind.
| 
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?