India in drivers seat against New Zealand in Hyderabad Test

HYDERABAD - Indian opening batsman Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir toyed with the New Zealand bowling attack to dominate day two of the second Test match being played at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on Saturday.

Sehwag smashed 96 off 120 balls while Gambhir scored 54 off 129 balls to share an opening-wicket partnership of 160, and set a solid platform for India’s reply to New Zealand’s first innings score of 350.

Sehwag, who had scored 173 in the drawn first Test in Ahmedabad, was unlucky to miss another century when he was bowled by New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori.

Gambhir, who had been struggling to score runs in recent months, looked comfortable today and played with a straighter bat than what he had been doing recently.

However, the 29-year-old followed his partner back to the pavilion after he was caught behind the wicket off fast bowler Tim Southee.

At stumps India were 178 for two with Sachin Tendulkar unbeaten on 11 and Rahul Dravid on seven not out.

Team India still trails New Zealand by 172 runs with eight wickets remaining.

Earlier in the day, the visitors managed to add just 83 runs to their overnight score of 258 for four.

New Zealand’s resistance failed in the face of quality bowling from off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (four for 76) and left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan (four for 69), as India wrapped up the innings shortly after the second session for 350.

Only Jesse Ryder among the Black Caps prospered today, kicking on from his overnight 22 to score a stylish 70.

Ryder’s half-century extended his golden run against India, which includes his 103 in the first Test. (ANI)