India's formidable batsmen showed remarkable tenacity as the visitors returned from the brink of disaster to save the second cricket Test and maintain their 1-0 lead in the three-match series against New Zealand here today.
India's formidable batsmen showed remarkable tenacity as the visitors returned from the brink of disaster to save the second cricket Test and maintain their 1-0 lead in the three-match series against New Zealand here today.
Smarting from the ignominy of a follow on and facing the onerous task of saving the match, Gautam Gambhir (137) showed tremendous application to stay put in the crease for nearly 11 hours, forging crucial partnerships with Rahul Dravid (62), Sachin Tendulkar (64) and VVS Laxman (124 not out) in the process. Resuming on 252 for two, India were 476 for four when play was called off with the visitors accomplishing the mission to save the match.
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Laxman and Yuvraj Singh (54) were unseparated in the end with the elegant Hyderabadi right-hander completing his 14th Test century in an effortless manner.
Both the teams now move to Wellington for the series decider at Basin Reserve from April 3. New Zealand, after enforcing the follow on, had themselves to blame for not being able to force a victory as bowling lacked the penetration to trouble the Indian batsmen on a McLean Park pitch that didn't show any sign of deterioration even on the last day.
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