Gautam Gambhir acknowledges his 150 set in Wellington. Photo / Getty Images
Opener Gautam Gambhir posted his sixth test century - and his second in successive tests against New Zealand - as India tightened their grip on the third and final cricket test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington today.
Gambhir, 96 not out at lunch, was unbeaten on 151 at tea
as India expanded their overall advantage to 451 runs. VVS Laxman was the other not out batsman on 29.
India resumed after lunch on 170 for one and head into the final session on 269 for three.
Denied a breakthrough this morning, New Zealand finally had some success when they removed Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, India's most experienced batsmen on their final tour of New Zealand.
Captain Daniel Vettori and wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum combined to end a 170-run partnership for the second wicket in the third over after lunch.
Dravid telegraphed a paddle sweep and the wicketkeeper jumped to his left for the deflection to thud into his stomach before he controlled the catch.
Dravid added three to his lunch score before departing for 60 from 145 balls, his 57th test half-century and the fourth in five innings in this series.
Tendulkar bade farewell in strangely muted fashion when he nicked out to Vettori, Ross Taylor pouched an excellent catch diving to his right at slip.
Tendulkar signed off from his fifth tour of New Zealand with nine, his final act of aggression being a lofted six down the ground off Vettori.
Opener Gambhir's second hundred in three innings eclipsed his vigil of 10 hours 42 minutes in the second test in Napier where his 137 was instrumental in India forcing a draw.
Gambhir, who resumed this morning on 28, brought up his half-century from 76 with seven boundaries. His second 50 took just 62 balls as he stroked another half dozen boundaries and a six off Iain O'Brien.
He took another 85 deliveries to reach 150, and his next target is a career-best 206 amassed against Australia in Delhi last October.
Vettori had the figures of two for 74 from 24 overs.
- NZPA
