Kiwis on back foot

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Nagpur, Nov. 20: New Zealand were rewarded well for reposing faith in a half-fit Brendon McCullum. The opener who suffered an injury minutes before the toss, in the company of Jesse Ryder ensured New Zealand will have something to bowl at after helping them recover from 72/5 to 148/7 at close. Tim Southee is giving McCullum company.

Battling injuries, Ryder and McCullum showed tremendous character to add 42 runs for the seventh wicket. They kept the bowling at bay for 19.3 overs before Ryder hit an innocuous floater from Harbhajan to Suresh Raina at covers.

A wet outfield meant the first session was barren. Play commenced only past noon and a rush of wickets pushed New Zealand back from where there was never a full recovery. S. Sreesanth ran in with rhythm but failed to make the batsmen play enough. Of the few occasions he did, he found success.

Martin Guptill promoted to open with Tim McIntosh nicked a delivery that slanted in before moving marginally away. McIntosh paid the price for bringing the bat down late.

Early strikes, a rarity in this series was well made use of by Ishant Sharma (coming in for the injured Zaheer Khan) who added two more scalps. On a strip that was dual paced, the Kiwis played one shot too many.

A predominant off-side field was not made use of. The score sheet might have reflected a different story but the bowling was not up to scratch. Rahul Dravid in search of his 200th catch in Test cricket was not a part of the catching cordon, courtesy the blow he suffered during the previous Test.

The first hour produced 24 lame runs in 12 overs. India had gained ascendance without doing too much right. It was important to cling on to the early advantage. New Zealand’s poor shot selection gave it away on a platter.

Ross Taylor began positively and was severe on anything short. Ishant lulled him by feeding the cut before pitching one fuller slightly faster. Playing around the pad, Taylor was struck in front. Kane Williamson’s was a tame dismissal, tapping the ball straight to covers. At that point the decision to play McCullum was proving to be costly.

Daniel Vettori played an exaggerated pull off Ishant to find his centre stump rearranged. Given the situation the shot was definitely not on. It was the job of the spinners from there on and not for the first time in recent memory were they disappointed.

Coming around the wicket in search of control, Harbhajan Singh was over-dependent on the rough. A first day wicket demanded more craft.

Pragyan Ojha was restrictive as usual. Sreesanth and Ishant lacked the zeal to test batsmen hindered by injuries. The wicket should play at its best on the next two days and India should have their nose well in front but they could have only been in a better position had they backed themselves a little more.

Scoreboard
new zealand
McIntosh b Sreesanth 4, Guptill c Dhoni b Sreesanth 6, Taylor lbw b Ishant 20, Ryder c Raina b Harbhajan 59, K. Williamson c Sehwag b Ojha 0, D. Vettori b Ishant 3, Hopkins c Raina b Ojha 7, B. McCullum batting 34, Southee batting 7
Extras: (b1, lb4, nb3) 8
Total (in 56 overs) 148/7
FoW: 1-11, 2-16, 3-42, 4-43, 5-51, 6-82, 7-124
Bowling: Sreesanth 9-4-20-2 (nb1), Sharma 13-2-32-2 (nb2), Ojha 19-2-49-2, Harbhajan 15-1-42-1.