Batsman Bhajji makes his point

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Ahmedabad, Nov. 8: When Harbhajan Singh said, “I’ll get a hundred next time,” at the end of his 69-run cracker in the first innings three days ago, even he wouldn’t have bet on “next time” being the very next innings.

But then again, it’s hard to predict things when he’s out in the middle. With 1/112 to show for two torrid days on the field, the offie conjured up magic with the williow — an enterprising 115 off 194 balls (11 fours, 1 six) that along with VVS Laxman’s rock-solid 91 (253 balls; 9 fours) — saved India from what would have been a humiliating defeat against New Zealand in the first Test here on Monday.

Harbhajan batted deep into the second session to notch up his maiden hundred in any form of the game in his 88th Test. The 163-run partnership between him and Laxman for the seventh wicket, 147 of which came on the final day, was the cornerstone in the hosts managing 266 on the fifth and final day from their overnight 82/6.

The Kiwis, staring at a 295-run target of a minimum 24 overs for an unlikely win, were 22/1 before the game was called off early. When the play began on the day, the visitors had looked on course to repeat the heroics of John Wright’s side in 1988, the last New Zealand side to win a Test match in India. However, Chris Martin (5/63) having run through the top-order in an adrenaline-induced five-wicket spell on Sunday evening, couldn’t recreate the effect against the contrasting batting styles of Laxman and Harbhajan. The Kiwis were further pegged back by the lack of two bowling options — Martin’s new-ball partner Hamish Benett and medium pacer Jesse Ryder — both injured.

Rearguard specialist Laxman had rescued India from precarious position twice in the last three Tests, the first one against Sri Lanka in Colombo with 103 in August, and the other against Australia in Mohali a month ago. Both those games ended in Indian wins. Here, with the Motera pitch refusing to crack up even in the final few hours on Day Five, he was quite content in biding his time.

He played second fiddle to the more adventurous Harbhajan, who save the switch-hit and the ramp shot, played every unconventional shot out there. He paddle-swept Daniel Vettori, hit a forehand tennis shot off Martin, and then a risky reverse sweep against Jeetan Patel, the last one in the first hour of play when India were still under a lot of pressure.

But his dangerous strokeplay upset Vettori’s strategy remarkably well. Their biggest weapon Martin bowled with a sweeper cover, and two men on fence on the leg side all day. An over before lunch, the Kiwi skipper tossed the ball to Brendon McCullum, someone who hadn’t even bowled a ball in first-class cricket!

Laxman missed out on his 17th Test hundred when umpire Steve Davies ruled him lbw despite a big inside edge off his bat. Zaheer Khan (0) was given out in similar fashion, but Bhajji unfazed, waltzed down the track and launched Vettori into the stands to bring up his hundred.

Despite the rearguard action by India, New Zealand are the side who will travel to Hyderabad for the second Test beginning on Friday a happier bunch. Bottom-feeders in the Test rankings table and coming off a 0-4 mauling in an ODI series to Bangladesh, they made the No. 1 side struggle and fight for a draw on their home turf.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni won’t sleep well on Monday night.

Scoreboard
India (1st innings) 487
New Zealand
(1st innings) 459

India (overnight 82/6)
G. Gambhir c Hopkins b Martin 0, V. Sehwag run out 1, R. Dravid c Hopkins b Martin 1, S. Tendulkar b Martin 12, V.V.S. Laxman lbw b Vettori 91, S. Raina c Taylor b Martin 0, M.S. Dhoni b Martin 22, Harbhajan Singh c Watling b Taylor 115, Zaheer Khan lbw b Vettori 0, P. Ojha not out 9, S. Sreesanth c Hopkins b Taylor 4
Extras (b10, nb1) 11
Total (in 102.4 overs) 266
FoW: 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, 4-15, 5-15, 6-65, 7-228, 8-228, 9-260, 10-266
Bowling: Martin 27-8-63-5 (nb1), Vettori 38-8-81-2, Patel 23-1-72-0, Williamson 4-0-18-0, Taylor 4.4-2-4-2, McCullum 6-1-18-0

New Zealand
T. McIntosh lbw b Zaheer 0, B. McCullum not out 11, B. Watling not out 2
Extras (b4, w5) 9
Total (in 10 overs) 22/1
FoW: 1-4
Bowling: Zaheer 4-2-7-1, Sreesanth 1-0-4-0, Ojha 3-2-1-0, Raina 1-0-1-0, Dhoni 1-0-5-0 (w5)

Pic Caption:
Harbhajan Singh exults after scoring his maiden century during the last day of their first Test match against New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Monday.