The test was definitely headed for a draw after NZ put together a mammoth total of 630/6 in the first innings. This included four centuries and consumed 2 and a half days of the test match. Their strategy was to put India under the pressure of avoiding a follow on and then try to win the match and series (India has lost only one series at home since 1987).

India responded well to the challenge with Sehwag scoring a quick century and other batsmen pitching in their valuable few runs. India looked very strong in their first inning at 203/1 when Sehwag and Dravid were batting at the close of Day 3. However Day 4 saw a couple of quick wickets and a uncharacterically slow half century from Tendulkar. India closed the day with Laxman batting at 86 and India at 390/6. The match looked headed for an easy draw.

However, morning of Day 5 saw the collapse of the Indian tail, putting us to bat again trailing the kiwis by 206 runs. Another collapse of the top order in second innings, and even an utter optimist like me thought that India would lose the match after all. Laxman came up with a fine knock of 62 runs in 183 balls and avoided an unfortunate defeat at home.

Wisden Match Reports

 

A resilient New Zealand managed to avoid follow on on Day 3 and put India to bat again. Indian batsmen performed well shutting the critics up again. Rahul Dravid made a quickfire 70+ runs and when Ganguly declared on Day 4 when India had a comrfortable lead of 369 runs. The match seemed headed for a draw with only 110 overs of play left for the match. India (Kumble) took some quick wickets in the morning on Day 5 but Astle and MacMillan stayed on till the end to deprive India of another deserved victory.

The main problem in the Indian bowling attack being the lapse in concentration and aggression towards the end of the opponents' innings. We have seen this earlier in the World Cup when we failed to wrap up matches even though the end of the match seemed very near.

Wisden links:
In control, but never in command
Favouring the leg side
McMillan and Astle save the Test

 

       Ganguly declared the India innings after reaching his hundred
       New Zealand now have 19 overs to play till stumps on day 2

End of over 159 (3 runs) India 500/5
PJ Wiseman 21-0-80-0 - GMDC End
SC Ganguly 100* (211b 8x4 3x6) PA Patel 29* (24b 5x4)
 

End of over 148 (10 runs) India 438/4
DL Vettori 42-9-119-2 - Adani Pavilion End
R Dravid 214* (381b 26x4 1x6) SC Ganguly 75* (174b 8x4 1x6)

Match State: Tea - Day 2

       We will be back in 15 minutes for the final session
       Your commentator Siddhartha Vaidyanathan signing off
       Welcome back to the post tea session
148.1 Oram to Dravid, no run, defended to the off side
148.2 Oram to Dravid, no run, driven straight to the cover fielder
148.3 Oram to Dravid, no run, short and wide, cut to the fielder
148.4 Oram to Dravid, FOUR, dravid lofts Oram over mid-wicket, more like
        a slog, aggressive intent
148.5 Oram to Dravid, FOUR, delicately glided to the vacant third man
        fence, great shot!
148.6 Oram to Dravid, OUT: short of a good length, Dravid looks to glide
        the ball to third man, edged to the keeper, end of a stupendous
        innings!

       India 446/5, Partnership of 182
       R Dravid  c Hart b Oram  222 (387b 28x4 1x6)

End of over 149 (8 runs) India 446/5
JDP Oram 31-8-78-1 (1nb) - GMDC End
SC Ganguly 75* (174b 8x4 1x6)
 

After some balanced batting performance, that is so characteristic of “The Wall”, on the first day of the first Test against New Zealand, Rahul Dravid continues the party on Day 2. Standing strong at 192, he is well supported by Ganguly after Laxman was dismissed early in the day.