Zeenews Bureau
Wellington, April 03: Counter-attacking half-centuries by Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh and some late flourish by Zaheer Khan in the final session helped India end at a formidable 375/9 in their first innings on the opening day of the third Test at Wellington on Friday.
Taking the attack to the opposition India’s late-order indulged in heart-warming, gutsy batting to not only nullify whatever inroads New Zealand bowlers had made all day, but also ensured that the visitors ended Day 1 with their noses ahead
The final session yielded 185 runs for India, who recovered from a middle-order collapse at 204/6 to end the day at 375/9, which is India’s highest-ever total on an opening day of a Test match.
India’s number 10 and 11, Ishant Sharma (15 not out) and Munaf Patel (14 not out) too made merry, much to the frustration of the home team, and had already added 28 runs in just 4 overs for the 10th wicket when the stumps were drawn.
Earlier in the day, after New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and opted to make first use the cherry, India made a flying start as Virender Sehwag, relieved of his captaincy duties for Wellington Test following Dhoni’s return from injury, unleashed an array of attacking shots.
Having raced away to 73 runs in just more than an hour, almost immediately after the first drinks break, India lost its first wicket when Sehwag nicked an o’Brien delivery to wicket-keeper Brendon McCullam. Sehwag scored a brisk 48, his knock coming off just 51 balls. He hit 7 fours and one six.
In the very next over, India lost its second wicket in the form of Napier centurion Gautam Gambhir. The Delhi Southpaw was trapped in front of the wicket by James Franklin for 23 runs.
Gambhir’s dismissal brought batting Maestro Sachin Tendulkar to the crease as the 3000-odd crowd at the Basin Reserve got abuzz with anticipation. Tendulkar, along with Rahul Dravid, in what could be their last Test match on New Zealand soil, anchored India safely past the 100 run mark, as the visitors went to lunch at 101/2.
A vintage Tendulkar was on display in the post lunch session as the Mumbaikar stamped his class with gay abandon at the Basin Reserve. While dissecting all parts of the ground with an effortless ease, Tendulkar plundered most of his runs from square of the wicket as India looked set for a mammoth first inning total.
However it proved to be a false dawn when, having reached his 53rd half-century off 67 balls, Tendulkar edged a catch to McCullam, which brought his downfall. Tendulkar made 62 runs off just 85 balls, his knock punctuated with 11 sublime hits to the fence.
Tendulkar’s departure was preceded by a middle-order collapse as VVS Laxman (4) and Yuvraj Singh (9) fell cheaply.
India went to tea at 190/5.
Having frittered away a decent start by losing a flurry of wickets towards the end of second session and slipping from a comfortable 165/2 to 182/5 in space of 10 overs, India received their sixth jolt when Rahul Dravid fell to Chris Martin after a dogged 35 run knock.
However Dhoni, Harbhajan and Zaheer led a fine rear-guard action to take India to a competitive first inning score.
While Dhoni scored 52 runs (89 balls), Harbhajan made 60 runs (78 balls) as the duo stitched a crucial 79 run partnership for the seventh wicket and provide impetus to the Indian innings.
Trying to `pull` a bouncer from Tim Southee, Dhoni only succeeded in inducing a top-edge to o’Brien at fine-leg as New Zealand got the breakthrough just as the partnership was assuming threatening proportions. He stuck 6 fours and a solitary six, making a successful from injury.
Harbhajan fell to a `length delivery from Chris Martin, to which the Indian offie ended up giving a simple catch at mid-off to Daniel Vettori. The Turbunator hit 7 fours and a six during his entertaining cameo that propelled India past the 300 run mark.
Zaheer too stuck some lusty blows as he contributed valuable 33 runs to the Indian total. Taking a cue from his fellow-tailender Harbhajan, Zaheer too showcased his growing utility to the team as a reliable lower-order batsman, spanking 6 fours in his cameo that came off just 23 balls.
After Zaheer fell to o’Brien, victim of some sharp athleticism behind the wicket by McCullam, Ishant and Munaf saw off the day without further losses.
New Zealand made two changes to the team that played in the second Test, Daniel Flynn replacing Jamie How and Southee coming in place of Jeetan Patel.
Squad
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel.
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Martin Guptill, Tim McIntosh, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum, James Franklin, Chris Martin, Tim Southee and Iain O` Brien.
