India were on the brink of their first series win in New Zealand since 1968 after the hosts lost four second-innings wickets still needing 450 runs for victory in the third Test here Monday. New Zealand were struggling at 167 for four when bad light stopped play almost an hour early on the fourth day, after being set a massive target of 617 to win the final Test.
India had a 1-0 lead coming into the Test at the Basin Reserve and a draw would be enough to clinch their first series win in New Zealand for more than four decades. Victory for New Zealand is out of reach, with the highest fourth innings winning total in Test cricket history being 418 scored by the West Indies against Australia in 2003.
New Zealands remaining batsmen face the imposing task of trying to survive the final day, with forecast rain their best chance of salvaging a draw. New Zealand vice-captain Brendon McCullum admitted his team was eyeing the rain forecast for Tuesday, but was ready to attempt to fight for a draw. "I guess you cant pray for rain or expect rain to get you out of a sticky situation," he said.
"We got a partnership formed late this afternoon, hopefully with a couple of batters to come we can still try and get out of this." Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh conceded India had both the weather and a slowing pitch to contend with in seeking their second win of the series.
The New Zealand second innings threatened to fall apart after lunch, until Ross Taylor offered some strong resistance, continuing to play his shots on the way to an unbeaten on 69 at stumps. Allrounder James Franklin was not out on 26 as the pair put on 83 runs for the fifth wicket to avoid an embarrassing rout after New Zealand had slumped to 84 for four. The destroyers of New Zealands first innings, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, cut a swathe through New Zealands top order in the early afternoon, taking two for 50 and two for 35 respectively. Earlier Monday, India declared at 434 for seven in its second innings to ensure a massive lead.
New Zealand have had their backs against the wall since Saturday, when they were dismissed cheaply for 197 in reply to Indias first innings total of 379. Indias second innings was built on the bedrock of a magnificent 167 by opener Gautam Gambhir, who batted for nearly six hours Saturday and Sunday for his second century of the series.
India resumed at 349 for five on Monday and added another 85 runs, with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni ending unbeaten on 56 before he declared 75 minutes into the morning session.
Yuvraj also helped pile on the misery for New Zealand, scoring a quick 40, including three consecutive fours and a six off one Iain OBrien over. Chris Martin had the best return for the New Zealand bowlers, finishing with three for 70 from 22 overs.
In reply, New Zealand lost their first wicket before lunch with opener Tim McIntosh becoming pace bowler Khans sixth victim for the match. McIntosh also became Rahul Dravids world record 182nd catching victim after the batsman edged Khan into to the slips in the 11th over. The veteran 36-year-old Dravid eclipsed the record for Test catches by a fielder, previously held by Australias Mark Waugh.
SCOREBOARD:
-- India 1st innings: 379 (S. Tendulkar 62, H. Singh 60, M.S. Dhoni 52; C. Martin 4-98, I. OBrien 2-89).
-- New Zealand 1st innings: 197 (R. Taylor 42, T. McIntosh 32; Z. Khan 5-65, Harbhajan Singh 3-43
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India 2nd innings:
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G. Gambhir lbw OBrien 167
V. Sehwag c Taylor b Martin 12
R. Dravid c McCullum b Vettori 60
S. Tendulkar c Taylor b Vettori 9
VVS Laxman b OBrien 61
Y. Singh c Taylor b Martin 40
MS Dhoni not out 56
H. Singh c Southee b Martin 0
Z. Khan not out 18
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Extras: (lb 5, w 1, nb 5) 11
Total: (7 wickets declared; 116 overs) 434
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Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-184, 3-208, 4-314, 5-319, 6-397, 7-397
Did not bat: Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel.
Bowling: Southee 12-2-58-0, Martin 22-7-70-3, OBrien 25-6-100-2, Franklin 16-3-72-0, Ryder 6-1-21-0, Vettori 35-5-108-2
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New Zealand 2nd innings:
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T. McIntosh c Dravid b Khan 4
M. Guptill lbw Harbhajan 49
D. Flynn b Khan 10
R. Taylor not out 69
J. Ryder c Dravid b Harbhajan 0
J. Franklin not out 26
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Extras: (b 6, nb 3) 9
Total: (four wickets; 56 overs) 167
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Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-54, 3-84, 4-84
To bat: Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori (capt), Tim Southee, Iain OBrien, Chris Martin.
Bowling: Khan 15-4-50-2, Patel 11-4-18-0, Sharma 6-1-33-0, Harbhajan Singh 17-5-36-2, Yuvraj Singh 1-0-4-0, Sehwag 6-0-20-0
Match position: India 379 and 434-7 declared, New Zealand 197 and 167-4
Toss: New Zealand
Series: India lead 1-0
Umpires: Daryl Harper (AUS), Simon Taufel (AUS)
TV umpire: Tony Hill (NZL)
Match referee: Alan Hurst (AUS).
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