Cricket: Kiwis in desperate battle to save third test

The lights at the Last Chance Saloon were burning brightly last light as the New Zealand cricketers battled to save the third test at Ahmedabad.

Saved from following-on only because India wanted to give their strike bowlers a decent rest, New Zealand were last night facing the prospect of batting through another four sessions to prevent their hosts taking the series 2-nil.

Eventually bowled out for 308 midway through the second session of the fourth day, New Zealand trailed India by 275 on the first innings, and - at the time - seemed almost certain to be asked to bat again by opposition captain Sachin Tendulkar.

Instead, Tendulkar decided to give his bowlers a short break from the scorching sub-continent heat, and opted for himself and Sourav Ganguly (India's opening batting combination in one-dayers) to have a quick crack at the New Zealand bowlers - not to mention an opportunity to scuff up the Ahmedabad pitch.

New Zealand's batting earlier on in the day was relatively sound - given recent performances - but, while bolstered by several useful knocks, it failed to receive one truly major contribution and it petered out prematurely.

In contrast to India's first innings, when Tendulkar, Ganguly and Sadagopan Ramesh all reached three figures, New Zealand's most prolific contributions were from Nathan Astle (who top-scored with 74), Chris Cairns (ninth out for 72) and skipper Stephen Fleming, who fell for 48 on the third day.

Cairns raised his 18th test 50 - and his second of this series - in Harbhajan Singh's first over, lofting the off-spinner for a glorious straight six before celebrating by driving and cutting for successive boundaries.

Resuming on 18 not out last night, Cairns struck boundaries to all parts of the ground and was one of the few New Zealand batsmen to look competent against the leg-spin of Anil Kumble - who ended the innings with five for 82.

Cairns was Kumble's fifth wicket, after playing on when the total was 294.

India's main success of the morning session involved the dismissal of Astle, who began the day 68 not out and promptly struck a boundary to bring up his 50-partnership with Cairns for the seventh wicket.

But having added just two further runs to his overnight total, he played with some width and Ganguly accepted the catch at second slip.

Chris Harris stuck around long enough to help Cairns put on 50 for the eighth wicket but departed when the total was 248, and Paul Wiseman was the last out after being adjudged leg-before to Harbhajan.