Late fightback takes India to 375 for 9 on Day One

Wellington, PTI:

Although the Indians put up a decent total, the Kiwis would also be satisfied to some extent having restricted the formidable Indian batsmen and will now look to gain a first innings lead on a pitch, which would be at its best for batting on the second and third day.

India scored at a brisk pace to rattle up 375 for nine in their first innings on the opening day of the third and final cricket Test against New Zealand, mainly relying on some lusty hitting by the tailenders, here today. Put into bat, the Indians adopted an aggressive approach right through the innings to score at a run rate of 4.16 per over on a Basin Reserve pitch to leave the series decider interestingly poised at the end of day one. The visitors were struggling at 204 for six at one stage but staged a brilliant recovery through a crucial 79-run partnership between skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (52) and Harbhajan Singh (60) for the seventh wicket. Sachin Tendulkar (62) and Virender Sehwag (48) were the other notable contributors for the tourists who are looking to record their first Test series win on New Zealand soil in 41 years. Ishant Sharma (15) and Munaf Patel (14) were the last Indian pair at the crease when stumps were drawn after playing out full 90 overs. Although the Indians put up a decent total, the Kiwis would also be satisfied to some extent having restricted the formidable Indian batsmen and will now look to gain a first innings lead on a pitch, which would be at its best for batting on the second and third day. India raced to 68 for no loss in the first hour of play with Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir (23) putting the Kiwi opening bowlers under the sword. Sehwag, however, needlessly hung his bat out to an Iain O'Brien delivery to be caught behind wickets by McCullum after stitching 73 runs with Gambhir for the opening stand. Sehwag's 51-ball 48 was laced with seven fours and a six. Gambhir, who had lasted over ten hours in his last innings, followed Sehwag into the hut, trapped in front by left arm seamer James Franklin who by far was the most impressive of the pace quartet in the first session. Even after the openers fell in quick succession -- in the space of nine balls -- India reached 101 for 2 at lunch and Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid (35) ensured no more harm was done by sharing a 90-run stand for the third wicket. But once Tendulkar, whose classy 62 took his aggregate to 335 runs from four innings, the floodgates were opened with India losing three wickets for 39 runs in 15.2 overs. Tendulkar was rarely troubled in his 85-ball knock which was studded with 11 fours. But like in both innings at Napier where he failed to score big after a great start, he wafted his willow at a distant delivery from Chris Martin to be caught behind the wicket by Brendon McCullum. A wee bit later, Laxman (4) committed the same mistake, chasing Tim Southee to Tim McIntosh at second slip. Interestingly like Tendulkar, Laxman has succumbed to catches in the slip cordon in all three innings that he has been dismissed in this series. Yuvraj Singh fell for nine LBW to Jesse Ryder though the television replays indicated the ball could have missed the off-stump. After India were struggling at 190 for 5 at tea, Dravid looked like settling down to play anchor but he perished to a soft dismissal soon after resumption as his pull shot off Chris Martin landed straight to James Franklin. Dravid's 183-minute vigil and 114-ball innings yielded 35 runs which included just three fours. Dhoni and Harbhajan then hung on to score gritty half centuries to bail India out of deep trouble. Dhoni's knock came from 89 balls and studded with six fours and one six. Harbhajan was lucky not to have got out with a couple of skiers from his blade falling at no man's land. His 60 came from 78 deliveries and laced with seven fours and a six. Zaheer Khan ensured that the tail wagged to the full by contributed a 23-ball 33 studded with six fours. Chris Martin was the most successful Kiwi bowler today with figures of three for 95 while Tim Southee and Iain O'Brien chipped in with two wickets each. Earlier, Dhoni returned to lead India after missing the second Test at Napier due to a sore back. New Zealand made two changes with Daniel Flynn replacing Jamie How and Southee coming in place of Jeetan Patel.