The
second Test at Hyderaband has ended in a draw and with that New
Zealand ’s splendid show continues in India .
New Zealand who rank number eight in the ICC Test ranking have now drawn four
consecutive Tests against India who are the number one Test team in the world
at present since 2003.
The
Kiwis posted 350 runs in their first innings riding on McIntosh, Martin Guptill
and Jesse Ryder’s sound batting performances. McIntosh notched up a hundred and
New Zealand ’s
steady batting progress was tarnished by Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh. Finally,
Harbhajan Singh’s bowling also has started to click alongside his batting. Good
news for India !
In
reply to New Zealand ’s
first innings total, the Indian batting response was cyclonic. Virender Sehwag was
as usual severe on the Kiwi bowlers as he went on to make a quick 96. With
Gambhir, Sehwag scripted an opening stand of 160 in no time.
But
the spirited Kiwis came back with a strong answer and strangle hold the Indian
batsmen. Daniel Vettori bowled non-stop and kept on teasing the Indian batsmen
with his left-arm spinners. As soon as Sehwag left, the runs had dried up for India .
The
Indian batting was again given the oxygen by the silky VVS Laxman who scored a
fine 74 and yes again, Harbhajan Singh. Harbhajan went on to score his second
consecutive hundred of the Test series and the first ever number 8 batsmen to
do that in the history of cricket. With Sreesanth, Harbhajan built a
partnership of 105 runs for the last wicket to take a lead of 122. Daniel
Vettori took five wickets.
The
Kiwis second innings reply was better. The Indians had lost Zaheer Khan for an
abdominal strain but there should have been a splendid response from Harbhajan
Singh and Pragyan Ojha on a track which was supposed to help the spinners. The New
Zealand batsmen progressed finely.
The
Kiwi’s second innings belonged to Brendon McCullum. The man is more famous for
his swashbuckling nature but, at Hyderabad ,
he showed that he is well-equipped for Test cricket as well. McCullum batted
for nine long hours defying the exhausting heat and reaped the rewards for his
hard work milking a toothless Indian bowling unit to get to the third highest
score in the second innings in India .
With McIntosh, he gave the Kiwis a solid opening start of 125 and even there
was a bit bother, but with Kane Willamson he just batted out the Indians.
McCullum
scored his runs with style and nonchalance. The spinners tried to unsettle him
by bowling round the wicket but they all found themselves to be reverse swept
for boundaries. There were his Mcscoop and those un-orthodox stroke plays which
he uses in the limited-over versions.
His
first Test double ton was brought up with a Mcscoop and this splendid knock
consists of 22 fours and 4 sixes. He looked to have keeping a pace with Chris
Gayle at Galle and looked to
surpass Martin Crowe’s 299, the highest individual Test score, scored by a Kiwi
batsman. But Sreesanth ended McCullum’s effort wit a mock motionless expression.
McCullum was out for 225.
The
Kiwis gave the Indians a target of 327 and Virender Sehwag’s 54 brought some
cheer among the crowd who were frustrated with the home team’s efforts. I was
expecting a bit more intent from the best Test side regarding this chase but
sadly, I found no such intent among them.
But,
well done New Zealand .
Despite not boasting with any big names, the Kiwis have been simply brilliant
in both the Test matches.
How
long can they maintain this fight back?
Time
will answer.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
No comments:
Post a Comment