Indian team can’t think of better result than this, they have beaten New Zealand quite comprehensively in the first test match to take 1-0 lead in the three match test series. After bowling out New Zealand for 279 in their second inning with the help of Harbhajan Singh brilliant bowling figure of 63/6, India needed 39 runs to register an emphatic win.
Indian think tank sent Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir to go for the target and saving Sehwag. Since it was small target of 39 runs, it was just a matter of time for both openers to achieve the target.
India achieved the target in just 5.2 overs to wrap-up the match. The winning run is hit by left-hander Gautam Gambhir (30 runs of 18 balls). Rahul Dravid (8 runs of 14 balls) remain other not out batsman.
Earlier resuming from the overnight score of 75/3, New Zealand started the day cautiously with Ross Taylor taking his time to settle in the middle while D.Flynn tickling the scoreboard with single or double both put on 35 runs for the fourth wicket. It had taken India almost an hour to break through in the morning but once they did, wickets kept falling at regular intervals. The first success came when R.Taylor ran out of his patience and caught in the gully by Virendra Sehwag trying to play a nudge shot on the bowling of M.Patel.
But New Zealand real threat began when Harbhajan came into the attack. He first removed first inning centurion J.Ryder trapping him lbw for 21 runs to give India second wicket before lunch on day4.
Harbhajan Singh produced a magical spell, probably one of his best overseas spell to bowl out New Zealand on the same score of 279 as they made in their first inning.
There was no substantial partnership in the New Zealand second inning except the ninth wicket partnership between B.McCullum (84 runs) and I.O’Brien (14 runs). Both put on 76 runs for the ninth wicket. However, Harbhajan Singh dismissed I.O’Brien just after tea to take his sixth wicket of the innings.
The first test match was in the firm grip of the Indians right from the first session of day1 however New Zealand did showed some fight back with century from D.Vettori and J.Ryder in their first inning after 61/6 at lunch on day1 but it was always going a tough ask for New Zealand to came back from that situation.
