Just watched the whole day's play and the day just started badly for NZ and failed to improve. It all began with the perplexing team selection, I understand Vettori and co want batting strength, but surely not when it restricts your bowling attack to such lengths.
Things got worse at the toss when MS Dhoni finally managed to win one, from there on the writing was on the wall. Chris Martin was poor with the new ball, there are admittedly fine margins of error when bowling to a player like Sehwag, but too frequently he threw it a yard outside off and duly got punished. Bennett did alright for me in his opening spell, bowled briskly, and in fairly good areas without being a massive threat. His pace decreased appreciably through the day, unsurprisingly when you look at how much effort seems to go into his action, and he charges in.
The spinners were largely ineffective, no real surprise there, Patel was poor consistently pulling the ball down too short, while Vettori was clever in his changes, as per usual, but it would make it more difficult for the Indian batsmen if he managed to at least get one to grip. He did give his a modicum of control, but no great threat, and his wicket came courtesy of a very tired and lazy looking shot, if you can call it that, from the entertaining Sehwag.
Ryder and Williamson did what you would expect of part-time bowlers, but they certainly looked a specialist bowler short. When NZ managed to build some pressure on Dravid, it wasd released by Ryder coming on and serving up a couple of easy boundary balls. Vettori turned to Ryder due to lack of options after Patel had been treated with contempt. Going in with four bowlers is dangerous in India, especially when there seems to be little consistency with those four, and one is on debut!
The fielding of NZ was spritely at times, and they did try and keep their spirits up, but half chances that have to be taken weren't. Patel missed a c&b, Hopkins put a couple down standing up (the one off Ryder was a real tough one due to a lack of bounce), Guptil probably spilled the easiest one off Sehwag. In an area where they are pretty strong it simply was not good enough.
Credit to India aswell though, Sehwag was fearsome, Dravid struggled big time at the start but NZ let him off the hook and he finally found his timing, and then on day two NZ face two batsmen that average in excess of 90 for 2010. Good luck. Sorry if I've gone on a bit.