Cricket: Positive outcome diminished by dogged India

Rahul Dravid. Photo / Getty Images

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VVS Laxman bristled at suggestions India might surrender a test cricket series lead meekly and his defiance was justified by resolute batting as New Zealand were condemned to bide their time at McLean Park today.

New Zealand remain the only potential winners of the second test, though that prospect was seriously diminished during three sessions of obdurate defence on the fourth day from an Indian top order well versed in the arts of crease occupation.

India still require another 62 to ensure New Zealand embark on a final innings run chase target on tomorrow's final day - but they will be buoyed after losing just one wicket during a stolid 90 overs of play devoted to the purist.

At stumps India were 252 for two, with opener Gautam Gambhir on 102 and Sachin Tendulkar 58.

Laxman, party to one of the great cricketing counter attacks of all time against Australia in Kolkata eight years ago when India won after following on, last night scoffed at claims India were destined to fold again after conceding a 314-run first innings deficit.

Instead Laxman forecast "something special" materialising after India were forced to bat again.

The fact he has not yet been required despite being listed at No 5 bore out his optimism.

New Zealand's chances of atoning for a 10-wicket defeat in Hamilton depend on somehow removing Gambhir, Tendulkar and Laxman as quickly as possible.

India resumed their battle for survival at 47 for one and by stumps they had cribbed another 205 at snails pace.

But from an Indian point of view the only vital statistic was time spent in the middle.

In Gambhir and a desperately unlucky Rahul Dravid they had two dogged defenders.

The pair treaded carefully from India's overnight score and apart from Dravid's lazy and risky running in the second over of the day they appeared in complete control on a pitch showing no sign of deterioration.

Dravid's first run of the morning would have seen his demise had James Franklin's throw been more accurate from mid-on and after that reprieve Dravid looked skywards before knuckling down.

It eventually took an umpiring blunder from England's Ian Gould to separate the duo in the middle session when he upheld a hopeful appeal after Jamie How dived to take a rebound from pad only.

Dravid was aghast when his resolute 62 ended.

For New Zealand the relief was palpable though their body language lifted only briefly.

Gambhir and Dravid added 133 for the second wicket, a union that spanned 63 overs and produced runs at a sluggish 2.11 an over.

Dravid batted 241 minutes, faced 220 balls, struck six boundaries and a rare six.

When he hoisted Jeetan Patel down the ground before lunch it was only Dravid's 15th six of a 133-test career that has realised 10,728 runs.

It was also his first since May 2007 when he deposited Bangladeshi captain Mohammad Ashraful into the stands in Dhaka - 24 tests ago.

Only 72 were added during the first session's 33 overs, only 62 in the 30 overs delivered to tea although Tendulkar's arrival saw the accelerator depressed slightly.

Tendulkar relatively rocketed to his fifty from 89 balls with seven boundaries and a six and in Vettori's same over Gambhir's supreme concentration was rewarded by his fifth test hundred.

The left-hander's second century in six innings - his 179 against England at Mohali in December has also been followed by scores of 97 and 72 - displayed the resolve so lacking in India's first innings of 305.

Gambhir, who became the third fastest Indian to reach 2000 test runs when on 56, was content to spend long periods in a dormant state.

He added only 23 runs between lunch and tea and spent 31 balls becalmed on 83 - not that the 27-year-old from Delhi appeared concerned as he played support to Tendulkar during a stand worth 89.

Gambhir only rarely showed emotion, his 14th boundary from 265 balls was followed by a fist pump as his chanceless ton finally arrived after 403 minutes at the crease.

- NZPA