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NZ bowl well on Day 4

Monday, October 20 2003

India are 390/6 going into the final days play at Mohali. For a result New Zealand would have to take 14 wickets in the remaining 90 overs, and that is if they manage to force India to follow on. A result seems highly improbably though, with only 12 wickets going in the first four days of the match.

Daniel Vettori has been in a class of his own in this innings with exemplary figures, but it was Butler who made the initial breakthrough on day four. Stand-in captain Rahul Dravid was caught behind early on, for just 13 runs as the Kiwi bowlers signalled their intentions.

Tendulkar came to crease having failed twice in the last test match, he was down on form and looked out of sorts. Yet Tendulkar, like the amazing batsman that he is battled through it, and with Laxman had a 112 run partnership. Tendulkar also brought up 50, but it was hard work and he was eventually caught bat pad by Mark Richardson, the bowler being Daniel Vettori.

On debut at home Yuvraj walked out with plenty expected of him. However he was disappointing, he looked uncomfortable and seemed hellbent on not playng shots, despite one glorious pulled six off a rare short ball from Vettori. Tuffey eventually removed Singh, caught behind for an excruciating 20 runs.

Young Parthiv Patel was next in, and lacking in confidence after a poor first innings keeping performance. He struck three boundaries in his 18 runs but suffered the same fate as Tendulkar, caught Richardson, bowled Vettori.

Kumble managed to keep out of trouble for the last couple of overs of the day, and he was left unbeaten on 1 with Laxman on 88.

Vettori's figures are definitely worth a mention, a staggering 53 overs, 2-77 including 24 maidens! Unless someone really stands up on day five I would back him for man of the match after the quickfire 48 not out in the first innings too.

Looks like day five could be very dull as the test meanders towards a draw. It would certainly take some terrible batting from India on the flat-as-a-pancake wicket to see a result in this match. Unless Fleming decides to really make a game of it with a very sporting declaration, but a drawn away test series in India isn't a bad result for this understrength New Zealand side.

Day Four: New Zealand 630/6d, India 390/6 (Laxman 88*, Kumble 1* 159 overs)

Posted by Kim