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Sachin Tendulkar watches a shot - Source: Reuters -
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7 pm Final Thoughts (India 278/4)
It's amazing the sway Sachin Tendukar has in the game.
After making not so subtle gestures to the umpires for several
overs, he gets his way - stumps is called for bad light.
In two of the final few balls of the day Tendulkar edged Iain
O'Brien through to the slip cordon but he proved once and for all
that playing defensively with soft hands will generally allow the
ball to fall short.
India reached 278/4 at the end of the day and the Black Caps will
be left ruing one critical opportunity - Daniel Flynn's
inexplicable drop off Tendulkar was the significant moment of the
day. In Test cricket, especially against the Indians, you rarely
get second chances and all money is on the Little Master cashing in
on day three.
The Indians run rate today of just over three runs puts the
pressure on the visitors tomorrow to lift the ante. They will be
well aware that all demons have left the pitch and it could be hard
work bowling New Zealand out in under two days, although of course,
you never know with the Black Caps top order.
Bank on India aiming to declare by tea with around 550 on the
board, but that could prove a tough ask at five runs an over
tomorrow. If as expected, India do play aggressively, this could
open the door for the Black Caps to snare some early wickets.
The first day was melodramatic while today was a more traditional
day of Test match cricket, but still there were some
highlights:
Deserved Recall - Chris Martin
Chris Martin was the pick of the bowlers today, running in with
unbridled energy and richly deserved his two wickets. Daniel
Vettori will now feel vindicated with his public endorsement while
the selectors certainly have some egg on their faces.
Play of the Day - James Franklin
Look no further than James Franklin's brilliant run out of Virendar
Sehwag in the first hour of the day. This was crucial to New
Zealand applying the breaks, after all, if Sehwag stays the leather
burns.
Shot of the Day - Sachin Tendulkar
Surprisingly less than 2000 fans (rough estimate) were at Seddon
Park today but those that were here got a chance to see one of the
modern day greats do his thing. His cover drive off Kyle Mills
towards the end of the day was stuff of genius and Mill could only
nod in approval.
Fluff of the Day - Daniel Flynn
Enough said really!
Domestic of the Day - Virender Sehwag and Gautam
Gambhir
That run out of Sehwag will test this relationship. Sehwag was
caught having a post-lunch net to crash out his frustrations. There
will be little chance that these two will be sitting at the same
dinner table tonight.
Finally...
The showers have emerged again but play is due to start at 10:50am
tomorrow to catch up the 10 minutes lost this morning and my
esteemed colleague, John Whiting will be in the hot seat!
Signing off, Chris Matthews for TVNZ.co.nz
5:50pm Tough Times for Mills (India 267/4)
He may be recognised as the third best ODI bowler in the world but
Kyle Mills is finding life significantly tougher in the Test
arena.
His first ball duck on the opening day effectively ended New
Zealand's resistance and today he has proved to be the most
expensive (0-70 from 15 overs) and less threatening of all the New
Zealand seam bowlers.
Chris Martin had managed to keep the usually assertive Yuvraj Singh
scoreless for 10 balls but as soon as Tendulkar milked a single off
Mills, Singh was let of the hook, cracking his second ball from
Kyle through the covers.
Meanwhile, Tendulkar has raised a rather sedate 50 (off 118 balls)
but nevertheless he is looking likely to kick on to a big score
tomorrow. How does poor Flynn feel now?
5:25 pm One Last Dig (India 238/4)
The hour after tea has been about as thrilling as a
rowing race. Only 36 runs have been scored in the 18 overs as
Sachin Tendulker and VVS Laxman choose to consolidate as opposed to
stamping some authority.
This snails pace can be attributed to some tight New Zealand
bowling and Daniel Vettori will be aware that this run-rate will
end up being beneficial to New Zealand's cause later - surely - to
save the match.
The new ball is due now though (5:16pm) - although Vettori has
continued to bowl himself - and if the Black Caps can somehow snare
a couple of late wickets it will be recongised as day where honour
are shared. If not, a daunting day three looms.
New ball has been taken now from the Grandstand End in the 81st
over. Over to you - Marto.
And straight away VVS Laxman is gone, caught at first slip by Ross
Taylor. It was an undisciplined drive from Laxman and now New
Zealand's body language has improved as the clouds and Yuvraj Singh
roll in.
4.55 pm Body Language Speaks Volumes (India 229/3)
Like a kid dawdling to school, Jimmy Franklin's walk back to his bowling mark screams indifference to the task ahead.
It's painful watching and does little to lift the energy of his
teammates, the crowd and everyone involved. Chris Martin and
Iain O'Brien may not be world beaters but at least they throw out a
perception of being busy.
VVS Laxman is soon pulling Franklin, dangerously close to Iain
O'Brien on the boundary. But Iain is no Andrew Symonds in the
field and lacks the athleticism and agility to pull it in.
Franklin is far from impressed but that's seemingly his last over
for the day and he is duly replaced by O'Brien at the Grandstand
end.
4:30 pm Harbhajan the Fan-Magnet
As much as he has his distracters, Harbhajan Singh sure gives it up
to the fans.
At lunch there he was, the lone ranger, signing autographs for the
hordes of Indian fans with little reservation.
And then at tea, there he was again, signing away and hardly make a
dent in the Indian army, but still he was giving it up to the
fans.
They call him the "Turbanator," and trust me Habhajan will be
back, well at least for his adoring fans.
3.50 pm Flynn flunks it! (India 197/3)
After scoring a big nothing yesterday Daniel Fynn drops the Little Master.
Tendulkar pulls and top-edges a Vettori delivery and Flynn runs back twenty metres or so and grasses the chance through his fingers; his short stature clearly no help in this particular scenario.
Now it was by no means an easy catch, but it was a solid chance and should have been taken. Especially when you're dealing with a guy that has an average of just under 55.
Tea has now been called. The middle session sees the honours even (89 runs for two wickets) but India are still clearly miles ahead in the overall complexion of the match.
3.30 pm The Fans (India 185/3)
It's turned into a spanking day here at the Tron, mild but warm temperatures are ideal for viewing cricket. So much so, that I decide to leave the little box where the constant tap of a key board dulls your very sanity.
Once outside, I approach the City end of the embankment and come across three young Indian fans, no older than 16. The leader of the musketeers, Zuber is approachable in his Indian one day international shirt. I introduce myself and ask him who is favourite cricketer is?
Without little hesitation he fires back "Tendulker".
"Okay", I reply, "but why?"
"Because he is very good", he says in the understatement of the century.
His entourage nod in approval and as our conversation fizzes out quicker than the Fight of the Century, Dravid is cleaned bowled for 66 (138 balls and 12 fours) by Iain O'Brien.
Enter VVS Laxman and this middle session is proving, dare I say it, productive for the New Zealanders but not as productive as their female counterparts. The White Ferns have racked up 373/7 against Pakistan at the women's one-day World Cup.
2.50 pm Enter the Little Master (India 161/2)
After lunch Kyle Mills increasing frustration is epitomised when he collects a soft Rahul Dravid drive and fires it back to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum. Two balls later Dravid pulls Mills through mid-wicket to raise the hundred run partnership.
But the very next over Chris Martin (not the moaning melancholy one) makes the crucial breakthrough. Gambhir is gone for 72 (135 balls, 11 fours), edging through to a thankful McCullum.But the only one upset at Seddon Park seems to be Gambhir himself, the whole crowd waits in anticipation as the one and only Sachin Tendulkar enters the contest.
He emerges quickly and the crowd erupts into its biggest frenzy
of the day. Tendulkar has a brief glance to the heavens and then
explodes, like a champion boxing assertively practicing his shots.
It looks menacing but it should be treat - he is the man everyone
is here to see.
Meanwhile, Dravid inconspicously reaches his 53 Test
fifty, which for your infomation is two more than his batting
partner. But don't be deceived by that stat: Dravid has 26 Test
hundreds, Tendulkar - the most ever at 41.
2:34 pm Only in New Zealand (India 150/2)
Before my run-in with stroppy Sehwag the majority of the embankment rushed on to the field as lunch was called. Sons and Dads littered the perimeter with just stick and ball. And even though all these kids were all clearly waging school, maybe their fathers thought watching Tendulkar and co. would be better education which I could hardly argue with.
As I walked through the labyrinth of games I eventually arrived at the middle where I, and a host of other wannabe pundits, could inspect the pitch. Nowhere else in the world would this practice be accepted, but I guess that's what makes New Zealand cricket so damn cute!
As for the inspection itself, it's become clear that Zaheer Khan's follow through yesterday was bordering on cheating. His footmarks were dangerously close to the centre of the pitch and in an ironic twist, should end being beneficial to Daniel Vettorri as the match unfolds.
2:07 pm Virender Not Happy (India 134/1)
Interesting little lunch break unfolded here at Seddon Park. Lunch is served underneath the main grandstand where the indoor nets are and I got talking to a television producer from Star TV in India.
As the last of the ham was being hoed down (by me of course as most Indians dont believe in eating pig) Virender Sehwag emerged keen for a post-lunch net session. He didn't look happy and my acknowledgement of a greeting (a little lift of the head) was received with pure disdain.
My Star TV friend was quick to point out that Virender was
disgusted with the run out this morning. Although his
leisurely pace didn't help his cause, he is apparently none to
happy with Gambhir's call for the second run. Gautam better
hope he bats for the rest of the day because sitting next to
Virender, after he lets out his anger in the nets, would be a
dangerous proposition.
1:14pm The battle of the flags
As my concentration wavers, my eyes drift of to the serene look of
the grass embankment. Although I fail to spot Wally, I do observe a
number; no scratch that, several flags - all of Indian
origin.
As I scan around the perimeter I count no fewer than seven Indian
Flags and one Indian umbrella (it rains in India?).
Seven of course (a lucky number in India) is more runs than Daniel
Fynn, James Franklin, Brendon McCullum and Kyle Mills made
yesterday put together. Lunch is called and New Zealand have some
serious thoughts to chew over (get it). Fat Freddies "Wandering
Eye" plays over the speakers and that sums up New Zealand's
morning. Their eyes have been wandering all right, to the boundary
line and they go to lunch wondering how to break this bloody
partnership.
Back soon folks!
12:48pm The rockstar Indians, as the New Zealand
media has affectionately dubbed them, now have their two less
lauded batsman forming a formidable partnership. Gambhir and Dravid
are technically their two best batters but if you think technical
implies boring then you wouldn't be to far off the mark.
However as fruitless as the last hour has been, as I witness
Gambhir edge Franklin agonisingly close to Jesse Ryder's big mitts,
this duo's passive pace could play in to New Zealand's hands.
This current partnership of 53 runs (at 12:40pm) is dawdling along
at under three runs over, which is a far cry if say Mr Sehwag was
still blessing the crease. If the Black Caps aren't going to take
wickets today, it could end up being some consolation to restrict
India to 300 by stumps, because after all, the longer they bat in
the first innings the less time New Zealand has to bat to save the
match.
Pessimistic I know but the reality sometimes hurts.
12:20pm Iain O'Brien gets his first opportunity of
the Test match, replacing Chris Martin from the City end, and
Gambhir promptly tickles him around the corner for four.
The bowling attack for this Test match has a perplexing sameness to
it, well at least among the three seamers. Martin and O'Brien are
the first ones to admit that they are not swingers of the cricket
ball and replacing Chris with Iain brings little variation to the
ballpark.
It's a mystery really why Jeetan Patel is not playing considering
Vettori said he would bat first even if he won the toss. New
Zealand will be bowling last on this pitch, unless India only has
to bat once, so the best chance for New Zealand to take wickets
would be with spin on the fourth or fifth day.
Incidentally, Patel was instrumental in the Black Caps victory over
England in Hamilton one year ago. His three wickets in the second
innings were crucial.
Drinks were just called on to the field. Time for a rethink Dan,
maybe give the left arm of Franklin roll, he's had success this
morning and could be the variation that is needed.
11:50am The ground staff here has done a
commendable job this morning. It apparently bucketed down at 7:30am
for a good couple of hours, although you could barely tell
now.
Gautam Gambhir stroked a Kyle Mills delivery through the covers
that raced across the outfield! Around the boundary line there is
the odd damp footprint but other than that
Seddon Park is looking rather marvellous as the Yoda, Mr Richie
Benaud would say.
Crowd is slowly building up too but Martin and Mills are looking
about as threatening as my Mum (and she's would be the first to
admit that she's no fighter). Could be a long day for New
Zealand....
11:35am Good Morning! Believe it or not it's a
balmy day at Seddon Park. But back to the weather in a second!
Jimmy Franklin has brilliantly run-out danger man Virender Sehwag.
Just what the Black Caps needed. Sehwag didn't exactly put the
afterburners on either and he pays the price for his morning
canter.
But the run-out was against the run of play, the pitch is looking
placid, like State Highway One, and New Zealand will need another
couple of wickets in this morning session if they have any hopes of
gaining some ascendancy.
