Harbhajan bowls India to 10-wicket win in Hamilton Test

Posted by on Mar 21, 2009 in Cricket

India have finally won a Test Match in New Zealand after a long gap of 33 years. Today they bowled out the Kiwis without much struggle to set themselves a cakewalk target of 39. The first of the three Tests has been won by a comprehensive margin of 10 wickets. Harbhajan Singh was the architect of the victory today as he finished with a six-wicket haul which is his career best figures in overseas Test Matches.

The Kiwis who had started the fourth day’s play at 75 for 3 in 31 overs were bowled out in the final session for 279 in 102.3 overs.  Wicket Keeper batsman Brendon McCullum top scored with 84 (from 135 balls with 11 fours) to make sure that his team avoided an innings defeat. Amazingly, McCullum managed to put on a fighting stand of 76 for the 9th wicket with Iain O’Brien (14) which lasted about 24 overs! Overnight batsman Daniel Flynn had provided a lot of resistance in the morning scoring a stubborn 67 (from 183 balls) with 10 fours before succumbing to a doosra from Harbhajan Singh.

Harbhajan Singh ‘The Turbanator’ was too good for the Kiwis as he finished with 28-2-63-6. India wrapped up the match by chasing down the tiny target of 39 in 5.2 overs with Gautam Gambhir making an unbeaten 30 from 18 balls in the company of Rahul Dravid. The Man of the Match award didn’t go to Harbhajan Singh but instead to Sachin Tendulkar for setting up the match in India’s favour.

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