|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 22 December 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
New Zealand vs India second Test : Twenty-two wickets tumble in day's play by GEOFF YOUNG, HAMILTON, New Zealand, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Both sides were dismissed for less than 100 in their first innings on Saturday for the first time in test history on the third day of the second test between New Zealand and India. Twenty-two wickets tumbled during the day's play which ended with New Zealand, chasing 160 to win and clinch the series 2-0, 24 for no wicket in their second innings. India, who resumed at 92 for eight in their first innings, were soon dismissed for 99 with Shane Bond (four for 39) and Daryl Tuffey (four for 12) doing the damage. But the touring side, in turn, took advantage of a lively pitch and some indifferent batting to seize an improbable five-run lead. Left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan, who captured five for 53 in the first test in Wellington, again did the damage with a career best of five for 29. India restored some sanity to proceedings in their second innings through Rahul Dravid (39) and Sachin Tendulkar (32), who added 49 for the third wicket and threatened to put the game out of New Zealand's reach. Sublime Tendulkar producing a sublime on-drive boundary and a vicious square cut on one knee before he fell to the impressive Tuffey, dragging the ball on to his stumps. Dravid, after batting 2-1/2 hours, slicing Jacob Oram to substitute fielder Michael Mason at deep point. The rest of the batting succumbed tamely, apart from Virender Sehwag who struck 25. Tuffey completed his second four-wicket haul and Oram took four for 41 from 12.5 overs. New Zealand squandered their bowlers' efforts with a disappointing display. Lou Vincent and Craig McMillan both edged deliveries to first slip and Nathan Astle thrashed his second delivery straight to backward point. Captain Stephen Fleming, who earlier took his 111th test catch to move past Bobby Simpson and Walter Hammond into eighth place on the all-time list, top-scored with 25. Rain prevented any play in the first five sessions of the match. "We'll have to have a good first half hour tomorrow," said New Zealand coach Dennis Aberhart. "If we can get through that and bat positively, then we should get through to victory." "The engine room of Bond, Tuffey and Oram did a great job and then Nathan Astle came along and took a very important wicket with his first ball. I've got nothing but praise for them. Sure the wicket helped, but you've still got to put the ball in the right spot, and they did." Aberhart said he did not think the test had started too early or before the pitch had had enough time to dry after being under covers in heavy rain for days before the scheduled start. "We're here to entertain and in my opinion the conditions were okay," he said. "They were marginal perhaps, but if you can get out on the field, then that's what we should do." |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
