19 March,2009 11:01 AM IST | | AFP
India were 278-4, one run behind New Zealand's first innings 279 at stumps on the second day of the first cricket Test here today. Sachin Tendulkar was not out 70, while Gautam Gambhir made 72 and Rahul Dravid 66.
For New Zealand, Chris Martin took two for 53
Earlier, some determined batting from Tendulkar saw him become the third indian to reach his half century after Dravid and Gambhir. VVS Laxman was the last man dismissed (30) post tea.
However, New Zealand showed they were not going to roll over after scoring a meek 279 on a batsman friendly wicket -- not even lasting the first day -- as they took two for 89 in the middle session on the second day.
They also had reason to feel unlucky not to have Tendulkar's wicket for 13 when Daniel Flynn was able to get his fingertips to a top edge but could not hold the ball.
Dravid brought up his 54th Test 50 by punishing a shortball from Mills with a square cut to the boundary.He was dimissed for 66. Gautam Gambhiru00a0made 72 runs.
Earlier in the pre-lunch session, New Zealand claimed the scalp of Virender Sehwag early but it proved a minor blip for India who moved to 108 for one at lunch.
With the pitch holding few dangers, India were heading comfortably towards New Zealand's first innings 279 in a manner that suggested they would occupy the crease for at least two days.
After starting the day at 29 without loss, India added 79 in a session that began 15 minutes late as ground staff mopped up after early morning rain.
Gautam Gambhir, who survived an lbw appeal when Kyle Mills no-balled the first delivery of the day, was not out 58 with Rahul Dravid on 23.
Sehwag had looked comfortable at the crease and was undone by an accurate throw from James Franklin when he was run out in the third over of the morning.
Gambhir had moved a Mills delivery wide of gully and after taking an easy single the pair were over-ambitious chancing a second, with Franklin hitting the stumps from 40 metres out and Sehwag was gone for 24.
With India at 37 for one, any hope New Zealand had of fighting their way back into the match quickly disappeared as Dravid joined Gambhir at the crease.
Left-armer Franklin was introduced to give variety to the bowling attack an hour into the day to Gambhir's delight as he took 20 runs off 20 deliveries faced.
Franklin had his moments, moving one delivery back to the left-handed batsman that went over the off stump and Gambhir edged another that fell just short of Jesse Ryder in the gully.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who with fellow centurion Ryder contributed all but 59 of New Zealand's 279 runs, brought himself on four overs before lunch.
But the option of playing a left-arm spinner at one end, with a left-arm quick at the other made little difference as Gambhir and Dravid comfortably played through to the break.
