Stumps on Day 3
Harbhajan Singh got an early wicket for India as New Zealand started badly after conceding a massive first innings lead of 373 runs. The visitors have ended the third day's play at 24 for 1 in 11 overs with Tim McIntosh getting plumb infront to a Harbhajan Singh skidding top spinner from round the sticks. The pitch has shown quite a lot of sharp turn and bounce to make both Harbhajan and Ojha look deadly.
At Stumps, New Zealand have Brendon McCullum on 15* from 26 balls along with night watchman Gareth Hopkins who has survived 10 balls to see through the day.
End of India's 1st Innings
India declared its first innings at 4:05 PM leaving New Zealand to negotiate 13 overs before Stumps on Day 3. The visitors are facing a huge deficit of 373 runs. The tactics from India looked strange as they prolonged their innings despite Dhoni and Dravid missing out on their personal milestones. The only valid reason for this was because MS Dhoni needed some recovery time for his cramps as he had to come out and keep the wickets in the New Zealand innings.
The 20-minute Tea Break wasn't enough for Dhoni to feel any better from the cramps and he struggled to move around in the crease though he got runner in Suresh Raina. MS Dhoni tragically got out on 98 (from 156 balls with 12 fours and a six) when he failed to get to the pitch of a Daniel Vettori flighted delivery to give a return catch to the bowler. Rahul Dravid got a few boundaries to get into the 190s but when he tried to hit a six over long on off Willamson, he didn't have enough power to clear Guptill in the deep. Dravid fell for 191 having batted out 396 balls and striking 21 fours.
Harbhajan Singh also got out while trying to play a big lofted shot and a while after his dismissal, India declared at 566 for 8.
Tea on Day 3
There was not a single wicket falling in the entire post lunch session as the Kiwis went through their motions to watch India pile up 510 for 5 in 145 overs by tea. The lead has been converted into a huge figure of 317 runs and a possible innings defeat stares at the Kiwis. MS Dhoni is inching towards a Test century after quite sometime having moved to 95* from 137 balls with 12 fours and a six. By the end of this session, MS Dhoni had started to cramp up and the session break was a much needed one for him to get fit.
Rahul Dravid at the other end has stroked his way to 166 from 364 balls with 18 fours. India could be declaring its innings once MS Dhoni reaches a century and Dravid may not be that lucky to complete a double century because of the cramps problem for the Indian Captain. The hosts collected 124 runs in the afternoon session in 30 overs.
Lunch on Day 3
India lost three quick wickets going into the third day's play and it looked as if New Zealand was red hot to wrap up the innings and restrict the lead. However, the Indian Captain - MS Dhoni walked in and played some blistering shots to put India back in charge along with the solid Rahul Dravid. Dhoni smashed 6 fours in an unbeaten 35 from 48 balls while Dravid registered his 31st Test century. The no.3 batsman is still unbeaten on 105 from 273 balls with 12 fours.
Sachin Tendulkar, one of the overnight batsmen went early in the 2nd over when he was forced to nick behind a rising delivery from debutant Andy McKay. Tendulkar added just four more runs to his overnight score of 57. Laxman, the next man in struck two fours before playing all around a Chris Martin's late inswinger to have his leg stump knocked out. A few overs later, young Suresh Raina committed too early onto a forward defence to a Daniel Vettori delivery which spun in sharply and kicked off alarmingly off the footmarks outside off to take a high inside edge which was caught at short leg.
India was reduced to 328 for 5 before MS Dhoni with his counter attack brought India back on track with Dravid to stretch the lead to 193 by lunch.
