New Zealand fight back at lunch on day two of Test (Lunch report)

AHMEDABAD - A late three-wicket burst by New Zealand spinners restricted India to 392 for six at lunch on the second day of the first cricket Test here Friday.

India at one stage looked poised to get past the 500-plus total with Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman scoring with ease. But Jeetan Patel (2-102) and Kane Williamson picked Tendulkar and Suresh Raina in quick succession to turn the heat on India.

When Patel trapped Laxman leg before on the last ball before lunch, the Black Caps had taken their third wicket for nine runs in the the first session of the day.

Resuming at 329 for three, Tendulkar and Laxman took from where they left off Thursday evening and added another 54 runs without any hiccups. Tendulkar, who is eyeing is 50th Test century, got out to a rather soft dismissal when he returned an easy catch to Patel off his own bowling and the visitors broke into celebrations.

The New Zealand attack, which was handed a brutal treatment by the first day centurions Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid, bowled a far more disciplined line in the morning and were aptly rewarded. Debutant Hamish Bennett, who strained his groin Thursday, however, could not take to the field.

Raina, who lived dangerously during his brief innings, became Williamson’s first Test wicket when Bendon McCullum took a a sharp catch at short extra cover.

Suddenly, the focus shifted on Laxman but he was soon caught plumb in front by Patel and New Zealand wrapped their first successful session of the Test.