Nagpur: Virender Sehwag's audacious batting complemented by Gautam Gambhir's patient approach as the duo shared 113 for the opening wicket to take India to 205 for two at tea on the second day of the third cricket Test against New Zealand here today.
India now have taken a 12-run first innings lead after bundling New Zealand out for a modest 193 at the VCA Stadium, at Jamtha here.
Both Sehwag and Gambhir got out while playing loose shots after they looked well-set for a century each.
While Sehwag scored 74 off only 73 deliveries with the help of 12 fours and a six, Gambhir made a patient 78 with the help of 12 boundaries.
At the tea break, Rahul Dravid looked solid batting on 35 while Sachin Tendulkar was on six with help of a beautiful cover drive.
It was again Sehwag who provided the momentum to the Indian reply as he sent the New Zealand bowlers on a leather hunt, blasting his way to 26th Test half century.
When Sehwag plays his natural game, the margin of error is very less for the opposition bowlers and the Black Caps' bowlers had to suffer.
He started off punching Tim Southee through the vacant cover region for a boundary. Chris Martin, who has troubled the Indian batsmen with some incisive spells, was then pulled twice to the mid-wicket region for a couple of boundaries.
Whenever the New Zealand pacers Martin, Southee or debutant Andy McKay tried to add an extra yard of pace, they were guided over the slips through the vacant third man region with minimum fuss by Sehwag.
When Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori came into bowl, the 'Nawab of Najafgarh' danced down the track to clear the long-on ropes. Sehwag, who completed his half century off 50 deliveries, also played quite a few delightful late cuts off the spinner.
With loose hands, he would just steer the ball in the vacant region between the keeper and the first slip.
Vettori finally got his revenge when Sehwag could not check his drive and gave the New Zealand captain a simple return catch.
At the other end, Gambhir, who had grown in confidence watching Sehwag bat, also clipped Southee to square leg for successive boundaries. He also hit a lovely cover drive off McKay who did trouble the southpaw as he brought a few back into the batsman.
After Sehwag's departure, Gambhir looked even more fluent with his drives while Dravid quietly settled down. Gambhir completed his 13th Test half century hitting Vettori over deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
Just when he looked like getting set for his 10th Test century, he needlessly flashed a Southee delivery to be caught by Ross Taylor at gully ending a fruitful 79-run second wicket stand with Dravid.