Cricket: Indian declaration leaves NZ with 373-run deficit

There's little call for liferafts in this land-locked city so New Zealand will have to construct their own as they battle for survival in the third cricket test here against India.

Nothing but choppy seas confront the tourists after the hosts underlined their No 1 test nation status on the third day at VCA Stadium.

India were in absolute control at stumps after declaring at 566 for eight in their first innings.

This left the New Zealanders facing a deficit of 373 runs, the equal seventh highest in their history.

In 11 overs before the close, they lost opener Tim McIntosh for eight, trapped leg before wicket playing back to offspinner Harbhajan Singh before Brendon McCullum, on 15, and nightwatchman Gareth Hopkins, on one, took them to 24 for one.

Rahul Dravid, who stroked a regal 191, and skipper MS Dhoni, 98, made life as difficult as possible for the visitors last night (NZT) with an Indian record-equalling stand of 193 for the sixth wicket after NZ snapped up three quick wickets, including that of Sachin Tendulkar, who became the first test wicket for new cap Andy McKay.

Dravid resumed on 69 in the morning before methodically navigating his way to his second century of the series and the 31st of his career before setting his sights on double century No 6.

It was well within his grasp, too, when he got himself out, trying to hit part-time spinner Kane Williamson out of the ground only to be well caught by Martin Guptill at long on.

While Dhoni lived up to his nickname of "The Wall" with a resolute display of patience interspersed with some trademark drives and cuts over 573 minutes, he took the attack to the tourists after surviving a life on 42 when McIntosh could not hold on to a difficult chance at deep mid off.

Dhoni went to his 50 off just 62 balls then accelerated as he planted left-arm fast bowler McKay over his head for six before slamming a straight drive for four in the same over.

He hooked, he pulled, he drove and he cut with a freedom affording him by India's position of strength and seemed destined for his fifth test hundred until he spooned a soft catch back at spinner Daniel Vettori shortly after tea after facing 156 balls.

Yesterday, NZ finally imposed themselves, briefly, as Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and an out-of-sorts Suresh Raina were all sent packing in the space of 12 overs at a cost of 32 runs.

The Indians had resumed at a powerful 292 for two and all eyes were on Tendulkar, who was on 57, a mere 43 runs away from becoming to first player to register 50 test centuries.

But in just the second over of the day, Tendulkar edged McKay's first ball to the third man boundary and two balls later McKay got some extra bounce to a delivery angled across the living legend, who again offered an edge, this time into the gloves of wicketkeeper Hopkins.

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand
First innings 193

India
First innings (overnight 292-2)
G Gambhir c Taylor b Southee 78
V Sehwag c and b Vettori 74
R Dravid c Guptill b Williamson 191
S Tendulkar c Hopkins b McKay 61
VVS Laxman b Martin 12
S Raina c sub (Watling) b Vettori 3
MS Dhoni c and b Vettori 98
H Singh c McCullum b Martin 20
I Sharma not out 7
S Sreesanth not out 0
Extras (12b, 5lb, 4w, 1nb) 22
Total (for 8 wkts dec, 165 overs) 566

Fall: 113 (Sehwag), 192 (Gambhir), 296 (Tendulkar), 309 (Laxman), 328 (Raina), 521 (Dhoni), 549 (Dravid), 562 (Singh).

Bowling: C Martin 28-4-82-2 (2w, 1nb), T Southee 29-5-94-1 (1w), A McKay 31-5-120-1 (1w), D Vettori 58-7-178-2, K Williamson 11-0-45-1, M Guptill 7-0-27-0, R Taylor 1-0-3-0.

New Zealand
Second innings
T McIntosh lbw b McIntosh 8
B McCullum not out 15
G Hopkins not out 1
Extras 0
Total (for 1 wkt, 11 overs) 24

Fall: 18 (McIntosh).

Bowling: S Sreesanth 3-1-13-0, I Sharma 2-2-0-0, P Ojha 3-1-2-0, H Singh 3-0-9-1.


- NZPA