India has final laugh on Day 1 of final test

Posted by on Apr 3, 2009 in Cricket

India had the final laugh in a dramatic first day’s play of the third and final Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The visitors finished at a more than impressive 375 for 9 on a sporting pitch. This was after they were put into bat first by the New Zealand Captain Daniel Vettori.

India got off to a smashing start from Virender Sehwag in support of Gautam Gambhir. The Kiwis though recovered on time to remove both the openers to reduce the score to 75 for 2. Sehwag made 48 from 51 balls and Gambhir got 23 before falling to James Franklin. India consolidated after the loss of the openers through a wonderful partnership between Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar that got the scoreboard moving.

The Kiwis once again fought back to turn the match in their favour when they removed  three more wickets in Tendulkar (62), VVS Laxman and Yuvraj Singh before Tea. India slipped to 190 for 5 and after tea found itself in further trouble losing Rahul Dravid (35). Just when the Kiwis thought they had got the innings under their control came a superb partnership between Skipper MS Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh. Dhoni was calm and composed while all the fireworks came from the free stroking Harbhajan Singh. The pair took India to a respectable 283 for 7 before Dhoni (52) got bounced out in the deep. Harbhajan Singh too departed but not before taking India past 300. The Turbanator played a smashing innings of 60 from 78 balls with 7 fours and a six.

India finished with an amazing 375 for 9 towards the end with as many as 185 runs getting robbed in the last session. Zaheer Khan chipped in as well with a breezy 33. India now has the last pair of Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel at the crease involved in an unbroken partnership of 28.

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