India in NewZealand: 2nd Test Review : Gambhir, Laxman score tons as India bat out a draw

30 March 2009: India maintain the lead of 1-0 in the three match test series against New Zealand after they drew the second test match at Napier today. Gautam Gambhir played a match saving inning of137 off 436 balls after a dismall batting performance by the Indian batsman in their first innigs. Daniel vettori would be proud of his men for taking the match so far, at one point looking favourites to win the match.



Gambhir along with Dravid batted out almost 4 sessions in their effort to save the napier test, which the home team looked favourites after the score of 619/9 dec courtesy a double ton from the man in form, Jesse Ryder. New Zealand won the toss and immediately elected to bat. Standing Captain Virender Sehwag replaced the injured Mahinder Singh Dhoni for this test would have been a happy man as the Indian bowlers picked 3 early wickets dismissing Guptill, McIntosh and Jamie How. Yuvraj Singh's curse with luck started when he dropped Ross Taylor at third slip when he was on 8, who went on to make 151 off 204 balls in partnership with Jesse Ryder who took the match away from India.

Jesse Ryder hardly broke any sweat as he continued on his way to his maiden 200 run score contributing majorly in two big partnerships with Taylor and Franklin to traumatize the Indian Bowling attack. . Some easy takers. Indian bowlers bowled their heart out and would have been frustrated to see so many deliveries take the edge off the bat and fly past the slips to boundaries towards third man. India never looked in any sort of form in the field as a number of catches went down begging, Yuvraj dropping 3 in the match.

Bendon McCullum celebrated his maiden test hundred with tears in his eyes as he in partnership with captain Dan Vettori who scored another 50 took New zealand past the elusive 600 mark. Indian Spinners struggled to build pressure as New zealand declared the innings for a monstrous 619 for 9, leaving India with a session and 3 days to bat themselves out off the hole they had dug into.

ScoreCard Courtesy: Sify Sports

India started off in blistering fashing as Virender Sehwag scored a majority of his runs in boundaries before he lost his wicket caught behind by McCullum trying to squirt a outside off ball for six. He had smacked the earlier ball for a six. Gambhir also lost his wicket playing a needless shot with the day drawng towards an end. ishant walked in as a night watchman and only survived as many as 13 balls in company of Rahul Dravid out lbw to Dan vettori. Sachin faced the Reminder of the balls to end Day 2.

Day 3 brought more drama as the Indians constantly lost their wickets in an effort to score runs. The wall, Dravid scored 83 and he in partnership with Sachin(49) and Laxman(76) restored some respectability in the inning. India lost their way after the dismissal of Dravid out caught by McCullum trying to sqauare drive a wide delivery from Jesse Ryder. They were bundled out for 305, 314 runs behind, India was asked to follow-on.

Sehwag and Gambhir played cautiously, but as soon as Jeetan patel was introduced into the attack Sehwag lost his mind. He edged his first ball to the fine leg boundary and was out lbw, plumb in front trying to smack the second ball over the Mid-wicket boundary. "DUMB" as the commentators called the shot, It's just how Sehwag plays. Dravid and Gambhir steadied the ship and saw India past day 3. Day 4 belonged to India and Gautam Gambhir as he brought on his 100. He played some good aggressive shots in his inning of 137. Dravid helped himself to another test 50 before he was out for 62. Sachin also scored another 50 to help India regain control as the match moved into Day 5. In an Inning that was dominated more by the bat than the ball, VVS Laxman brought about his hundred in partnership with Yuvraj Singh who raced his way to a 50.





India batted superbly in the second inning as both catains shaked their hand to confirm the match drawn. Jesse Ryder was given the Man Of the Match for his double ton with the bat and few wickets with the ball. Special efforts from Rahul Dravid and Gambhir. Dravid has silenced all his critics by springing back to form and hasn't he celebrated it well so far. Both his innings in this Test match have looked very convincing and authoritative. Gambhir especially looked total opposite to what he did in the first innings. Who would have imagined that he would play such a matured knock after having thrown his wicket away in the first innings. He curbed down his natural instincts and batted out of his skin to rescue his side. Laxman was truly special as well for his magnificent ton.

This is a moral victory for the Indians, defeat loomed large over them after they were bundled out cheaply in the first innings. But then the batting stalwarts got into the act and put up a show for which they're known for across the globe. Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Laxman, all put their heads down and batted for time unknown to seal a draw for their side. This is indeed no less than a win for the visitors. India still lead the series 1-0.

And Now we move to wellington April 3rd, can the NewZealand team pull a series draw? Join me for more action and updates, till then it's a good bye from me.

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Kunal Janu
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India in NewZealand: Ryder and Taylor put NZ in strong position : 2nd Test, Day 1, Review

Napier: Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder combined for a record 271-run partnership to help New Zealand recover from a disastrous start and reach 351 for four at the end of the first day of the second Test against India. Taylor (151) and Ryder (137 not out) had come together at 23-3 within the first hour when Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma destroyed New Zealand's top order after the hosts had won the toss and opted to bat on a good wicket at McLean Park.



The weather looked good and sun was already shining, Daniel vettori didn't hesitate one bit in winning the toss and electing to bat first. Sehwag standing captian for MS Dhoni who had to sit out because of a back strain announced the only change, Dinesh karthick replacing MS Dhoni. Newzealand on the othr hand made a couple of changes, Jamie how replacing the injured Daniel Flynn and Jeetan patel played as the second spinner to replace the out-of-form Kyle mills.

Newzealand opening pair of Martin Guptill and McIntosh started the inning steadily attacking the loose balls and leaving the good ones outside off. The first runs came off Zaheer Khan's second ball to Tim McIntosh, who caressed a square-drive to the boundary. McIntosh edged a few balls into the vacant slip areas in the first few overs, martin guptill too survived some of India's initial swing bowling. McIntosh was living dangerously and soon came the downfall, he edged one through to the wicket keeper who claimed the catch cleanly leaving NZ at 21 fro 1 in the 8ht over of the match. Television replays clearly showed the ball missing the bat by a good margin. Umpire Billy Doctrove went by the movement and sound to turn it in India's favor.

Trying to drive when defense was the better option, Jamie How - in at No. 3 for an injured Daniel Flynn - had no clue about a full and swinging Zaheer special and had his stumps splayed. New Zealand were 22 for 2 in nine overs and this was a critical stage as Ross Taylor joined Martin Guptill. There wasn't much movement and all the batsmen needed to do was get themselves in, runs would come. Guptill looked far from comfortable as he gloved a surprise bouncer from Zaheer khan handing a simple catch to sehwag at gully. NZ at 23 for 2 in the 11th over looked like repeating the 60/6 performance in the first test match. In walked Jesse Ryder, Man who restored some respect into the below par performance of NZ in the first test. Both Taylor and Ryder survived a few edges that went flying past the vacant slip corden.

The Turning Point: Who knew the turning point in NZ inning would come so early. Taylor edged a rising Munaf Patel delivery to Yuvraj at third slip, though not at comfortable height the ball carried to Yuvraj's left who only managed to get his fingertips. Taylor survived the over edging 3 genuine delivery over the slips scoring 16 off Munaf's second over.

Taylor continued playing shots but always kept the bowlers hopeful that he would over-reach himself. He edged a lot of deliveries through the slip corden earning NZ team useful runs. Jesse Ryder on the other end continued where he left off scoring boundaries in the most elegant manner reminding of Saurav ganguly. He stood tall and waited till the last moment for the ball to arrive, Width was smacked to the boundary while good legitimate deliveries bowled at the stumps earned respect from his bat. Minutes before lunch he got a thick edge off Harbhajan Singh evaded Karthik and slip and it was the only blemish in an innings that helped get NewZealand back toward steady ground. The Taylor-Ryder stand has so far added 75 and both batsmen appear to have settled.

Post lunch it was all NZ domination, The duo scored runs at a brisk pace with India looking for options to stop the runs and pick some wickets. taylor produced some exciting moments when he wa on 99. He however brought up his 100 from 151 balls to help the hosts to 233-3 at tea. After the break, the pair set the partnership record before Ryder brought up his second Test century, when he guided a Zaheer delivery past backward point for his 14th boundary. taylor got another oppurtunity when he edged a arm blall from Yuvraj singh between the wicket keeper and slip. Dravid was late to react as another catch went down begging. Taylor finally departed trying to whack a harbhajan singh delivery that was bowled well outside the off stump over midwicket ending up skying the ball. Yuvraj singh took a good running catch to dismiss Taylor for 151.

Yuvraj dropped another sitter just before close of play when franklin edged a length ball that was moving away from his body. It went Straight in and came Straight out, A tough day for India on the field more so for Yuvraj who now will have to practice hard fielding in the slips. Jesse Ryder brought up another 100 in partnership with James Franklin to take NZ to 51/4 at stumps. India need to forget whatever happened during the day and clean up the rest of the batting from Newzealand which includes McCullum and Vettori. NZ would on the other hand be feeling happy of what fared out and will hope that the form and momentum stays with the them for the rest of the match.

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