Gutsy Gambhir leads India's fightback in 2nd Test

Joseph Hoover

Napier, Mar 29 (PTI) Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir
struck a gutsy unbeaten century to lead a remarkable Indian
fightback as the visitors raised hopes of drawing the second
cricket Test against New Zealand by losing just one wicket on
the fourth day here Sunday.

After conceding a huge 314-run lead, the Indians raised
their game when it mattered most to reach 252 for two at close
on the penultimate day, still trailing the hosts by 62 runs.

The left-handed Gambhir notched up his fifth Test ton and
was batting on 102 while Sachin Tendulkar (58 not out) and
Rahul Dravid (62) were the other notable contributors as the
Indians batted valiantly to save the Test.

With one day left, the Indians have to keep the good work
going and prevent New Zealand from levelling the three-match
series 1-1.

Resuming on 47 for one, Gambhir first added 133 runs with
Dravid before putting on 89 runs for the unseparated third
wicket with Tendulkar.

Dravid and Gambhir displayed remarkable application in
steering India out of woods with a steadfast partnership that
kept the Kiwis at bay for four long hours.

In fact, the awesome threesome of Indian cricket
manifested why VVS Laxman had been confident of India
producing something special at the media briefing last
evening.

They scarcely gave the Kiwis a chance to reassert
themselves in the game, mixing caution with aggression to
assimilate runs, though scoring at a snail's pace of 2.28 an
over.

Dravid's impregnable defence and Tendulkar's dominance
are folklore in Indian cricket but Sunday Gambhir showed why
he is regarded highly by his illustrious seniors. He batted on
and on, wearing the Kiwi nerves thin and running them ragged.

There was a period when he was stuck on 83 for 32 balls
in 57 minutes but he hung on patiently to bring up his fifth
century, getting a congratulatory hug from Tendulkar, who
seemed more delighted than Gambhir himself.

Gambhir also reached a personal land mark in reaching
2000 runs in his 24th Test.

Tendulkar was his imperious self, driving with elan on
the up and off the back foot through covers and clipping off
his legs with precision, once even hooking Iain O'Brien over
the pickets over fine-leg when the speedster dared to dig the
ball short.

Having offered his wicket on a platter (49) in the first
innings, the Little Master dropped anchor to prepare for what
would probably be his 43 Test hundred, his second successive
in the series.

Earlier, a dubious bat-pad decision by umpire Ian Gould
set India back 27 minutes before tea when Dravid was adjudged
caught at forward short leg by Jamie How off Vettori.

Dravid had leaned forward to defend Vettori. Though the
ball had eluded his bat and glove, Gould declared him caught
off bat-pad at forward short leg by Jamie How, giving the
Kiwis the breakthrough they had been searching for most part
of the day.

More than the runs they garnered (133) for the second
wicket, Gambhir and Dravid had done a great job for India in
the morning by consuming four hours, effectively wearing down
the enervated Kiwis. PTI JH
DEP