New Zealand under pressure in Nagpur Test
By ANIMonday, November 22, 2010
NAGPUR - Indian batsman Rahul Dravid notched up his 31st Test century, while skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored a half century as India took a massive lead of 373 runs on the third day of the final Test match against New Zealand in Nagpur on Monday.
Resuming the day at 292-2, India lost overnight half centurion Sachin Tendulkar (61), V.V.S. Laxman (12) and Suresh Raina (three) in the morning session, but Dravid kept the momentum going under friendly conditions at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
Dravid scored 191 off 396 balls in a charismatically gritty manner, and shared a 193 run sixth-wicket partnership with Dhoni, who scored a confident 98 off 156 balls, to guide Team India to a total of 566/8 declared in reply to New Zealand’s first innings score of 193.
Both the batsmen were dismissed early in the final session, and were followed by centurion in the Ahmedabad and Hyderabad Test- Harbhajan Singh (20).
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori was the most successful bowler for the Black Caps finishing with the figures of 3-178 off 58 overs.
In the second innings, New Zealand survived 11 overs when bad light stopped play before the scheduled close of play on day three.
The visitors were 24/1 at stumps, as Harbhajan Singh claimed in-form opener Tim McIntosh for eight.
New Zealand trail by 349 runs with nine wickets remaining, with Brendon McCullum (15 not out) and Gareth Hopkins (eight not out) on crease.
Brief Scorecard: New Zealand: Ist Innings: 193 (Ryder 59, McCullum 40, Ishant 4-43)India: Ist Innings: 566 for eight declared (Dravid 191, Dhoni 98, Vettori 3-178)
New Zealand: Second innings: 24 for 1 (ANI)
