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NZ chase 370

Sunday, October 12 2003

After an interesting day's play in Ahmedabad New Zealand find themselves 48/1 chasing 370. This comes after being bowled out for 340 earlier in the day, and seeing India come out looking to score runs fast and declaring on 209/6.

Daniel Vettori and Paul Wiseman strolled out on day four with the task of avoiding the follow on. They needed 19 runs to do this, and they managed it with ease. In fact Vettori was somewhat of a hero with the bat, going on to make 60 before Kumble finished New Zealand's innings by removing him, caught by Dravid.

The Indian openers Sehwag and Chopra came out with the plan being to score a lot of runs fast. Sehwag once again failed, making 17 runs. He was caught behind playing a lazy late cut, and gloved it through to Robbie Hart. Rahul Dravid, came out and continued his top form from the first innings and it looked like another hundred was on the way, though he was eventually dismissed on 73. The Indians were definitely in one day mode, Dravid's innings came from 86 balls, and Ganguly and Laxman both scored at better than a run a ball making 25 and 44 respectively. Local hero Parthiv Patel was not out with just five runs when Ganguly declared.

A talking point of the innings was Tendulkar's second failure. He was dismissed on seven after only making eight runs in the first innings. There were suggestions that he should have perhaps opened the innings given the circumstances.

Vincent and Richardson came out with the job of facing 18 overs until the end of the day. They were doing it well until Richardson was dismissed off the bowling of Kumble on the final ball of the 16th over, popping the ball up to Chopra at short leg who took another blinder of a catch. Tuffey came out to join Vincent as the nightwatchman, and did his job well, looking very comfortable at the crease. And isn't it great to have a number eleven who can do the job!

Day Four: NZ 340, India 209/6d, NZ 48/1 (Vincent 21*, Tuffey 0*, 18 overs).

Posted by Kim