India End Long Drought

Gambhir finished on 30 not out, while Dravid was on eight after Harbhajan Singh had ripped through New Zealand’s second innings with figures of six for 63 to set up the win.

India's Harbhajan Singh celebrates after dismissing New Zealand's Iain O'Brien on day four of their first test cricket match in Hamilton

The Indian offspinner had taken five wickets before tea and it was only a stubborn 76-run ninth wicket partnership between Brendon McCullum (84) and Iain O’Brien (14) that allowed the hosts to give India the small target to chase.

Needing to make at least 241 to force the Indians to bat a second time, New Zealand collapsed to 216 for eight at tea on the fourth day, still 25 runs short.

Harbhajan ripped through the Kiwis’ batting, capturing five wickets for 45 runs before tea as the tourists closed in on their first test victory on New Zealand soil since 1976.

However, just as it seemed as if they could force the game into an unlikely fifth day, O’Brien was caught in close by Vangipurappu Laxman to give Harbhajan his sixth wicket.

McCullum then decided to hit out and after hitting left arm spinner Yuvraj Singh for four, attempted to repeat the shot two balls later only to top-edge a catch to Laxman to end the innings.

BACK FOOT

New Zealand were always up against it after losing six wickets in the very first session of the match on Wednesday and started the fourth day in deep trouble at 75-3.

Any hopes of a miracle appeared dashed when they lost Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder in the morning to limp to lunch on 146-5 then three more wickets by tea.

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India On Top in Hamilton

Daniel Vettori and Jesse Ryder both struck centuries to lead a New Zealand fight back in the first test against India at Hamilton on Wednesday.

Vettori completed his third test hundred with a superb captain’s knock of 118 while Ryder registered his maiden test ton with 102 to rescue New Zealand from a disastrous start and post 279 on the opening day at Seddon Park.

daniel-vettori

India, in reply, were 29 without loss in their first innings at stumps at the
end of an absorbing day with Virender Sehwag unbeaten on 22 and Gautam
Gambhir not out six.

India have not won a test series in New Zealandfor more than 40 years but thrashed the Kiwis in the one-dayers and could hardly have made a better start to the first of three tests.

virender-sehwag

The tourists would have been in an even better position had Vettori and
Ryder not batted through the entire middle session, adding 186 for the
seventh wicket after India’s fast bowlers had demolished the New
Zealand top order.

Ishant Sharma captured three wickets in a devastating spell before lunch then polished off the innings when he dismissed last-man-out Ryder after tea.

Munaf Patel bagged three wickets, including Vettori then Kyle Mills for a golden duck to be on a hat-trick, while Zaheer Khan triggered the top-order collapse with two early wickets to vindicate Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s decision to field.

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Clarke likely to miss first Test

Australian Vice-Captain Michael Clarke is likely to be ruled out of the first Test match against South Africa due to a serious back injury. The first Test match will start on Thursday.

michael clarke

Admitting the spasms and discomfort, Clarke had a couple of net sessions instead of playing a tour match against South Africa Board President’s XI at Senwes Park.

His unavailability for the first Test match would be serious blow for Kangaroos who have lost their number one spot in recent times.

Clarke, who had a lot of inflammation and spasm, said, “I do not know exactly how it happened. I guess it’s a sprain. I had a lot of inflammation and spasm. It is improving slowly every day since we arrived here.”

The Australian Vice-captain was, however, hopeful to play in the first Test match.

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