Nagpur, Nov. 22: India sealed all possible escape routes as New Zealand continued to be at the receiving end in this third and final Test here on Monday. Rahul Dravid’s marathon 191 (573m, 396b, 21x4) helped India post a mammoth 566//8 declared. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was unlucky to miss his fifth Test hundred by two runs. Harbhajan Singh then claimed the wicket of Tim McIntosh before close to leave the Kiwis at 24/1 at stumps, still in arrears by 349 runs.
It was another steady batting effort by India on a wicket that is slowing down all the time. The much expected 50th Test hundred of Sachin Tendulkar was denied yet again when debutant Andy McKay got one to bounce higher than Tendulkar anticipated in the second over of the day.
V.V.S. Laxman stroked one through mid-wicket and another through covers before Chris Martin disturbed the leg stump with pace, swing and slant. The first hour was slow progress with only 23 added. Suresh Raina came in and made batting look difficult. Ducking and weaving without poise, the left hander succumbed to the guile of Daniel Vettori. The fall of three quick wickets further pushed Dravid into a shell.
Dhoni did not inspire confidence at the start of his innings. After missing out on a short ball from McKay he struck three successive boundaries to help make up for the slow first hour. Dhoni’s technique against the seamers was not easy on the eye but effective none the less. Dravid picked up the pieces well and the innings gathered momentum. The extended first session saw India stretch the lead by a further 94. Only one result looks a possibility from here.
Dravid was struck on 87 for while and was fortunate to see a thick outside edge off Vettori go past Ross Taylor at first slip. A brace brought up Dravid’s 31st Test hundred. Dhoni continued to take his chances and finding the ropes at regular intervals helped spread the field and focus shifted to singles.
Even on a flat deck with a wicket nowhere in sight, New Zealand continued to be athletic in the field, flinging at everything and making worthy saves. The century stand came in 183 balls, Dhoni’s contribution was 62. Dravid started keeping pace with Dhoni who hit his only six while picking the length early when McKay pitched up and drove the next ball harshly along the carpet.
Run-making gathered momentum and even reached a frenzied pace as both batsmen cut loose. All the bowlers barring Vettori suffered. Dhoni was hit with cramps when on 92 whicj dried up the runs. Unable to continue, Dhoni asked the services of a runner but was out caught and bowled with his century in sight.
Dravid was visibly tired and also bothered by cramps but refused to throw it away. Only when he sensed a chance against the part time off-spin off Kane Williamson did the veteran jump out and commit to a shot that was not on. Unfortunately for Dravid the intended hit over long-on did not have enough wood and fell safely into the palms of Guptill. This is the second time where Dravid has fallen in the 190s against New Zealand. (190 at Hamilton, 1999-2000).
Harbhajan’s lack of urgency defied logic. Probably Dhoni was giving himself some more time to recover before taking field but the manner in which Harbhajan attempted to go berserk against the third new ball did not suggest that. Finally the innings was declared with more than handy lead in place.
Spin was introduced after the fifth over and there was turn for Harbhajan and Ojha. The left-armer was unlucky to have his appeal for lbw against Hopkins turned down. Taking the game to the final day looks a tall order for the visitors.
Scoreboard
new zealand
1st innings 193
India 1st innings
(overnight 292/2)
Gambhir c Taylor b Southee 78, Sehwag c and b Vettori 74, Dravid c Guptill b Williamson 191, Tendulkar c Hopkins b McKay 61, Laxman b Martin 12, Raina c sub (Watling) b Vettori 3, Dhoni c and b Vettori 98, Harbhajan c McCullum b Martin 20, Ishant not out 7, Sreesanth not out 0
Extras (b12, lb5, w4, nb1) 22
Total (in165 overs) 566/8 decl.
FoW: 1-113, 2-192, 3-296, 4-309, 5-328, 6-521, 7-549, 8-562 (Singh)
Bowling: Martin 28-4-82-2 (w2, nb1), Southee 29-5-94-1 (w1), McKay 31-5-120-1 (w1), Vettori 58-7-178-3, Williamson 11-0-45-1, Guptill 7-0-27-0, Taylor 1-0-3-0.
New Zealand 2nd innings
McIntosh lbw b Harbhajan 8, McCullum batting 15, Hopkins batting 1
Total (in 11 overs) 24/1
FoW: 1-18 (McIntosh)
Bowling: Sreesanth 3-1-13-0, Sharma 2-2-0-0, Ojha 3-1-2-0, Harbhajan 3-0-9-1