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| Ross Taylor |
India made 283 for 5
wickets at stumps on the second day the second cricket Test against the touring
New Zealand in Bangalore today. India still trails
by 82 runs with five wickets remaining. New Zealand scored a total of 365
runs thanks to a brilliant century by skipper Ross Taylor. The test match looks
evenly poised at the moment with a lot depending on how much India add
tomorrow morning.
After a humiliating defeat in the first Test New Zealand batsmen finally
delivered yesterday, the first day of the second Test. On a cloudy morning as
usual Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan struck early getting the prize catch of
Brendon McCullum for a duck in the second over. But Guptil (53) kept on at the
other end and asRoss Taylor walked in things
changed for New Zealand.
They managed to keep the spinners at bay thrashing them around at every
opportunity. Taylor made a sizzling 113 and when
he was out at 246/6 New
Zealand was again in a bit of a spot. But a
sound partnership between CFK van Wyk (71) and DAJ Bracewell (43) took New Zealand to
a position of relative command at 328/6 at the end of play. The scoring rate of
the day was also excellent. On the second morning today the Kiwis advanced the
score to 345, but then lost all their four wickets for only 20 more runs more.
Spinner Pragyan Ojha captured five wickets for 99, his third haul of five or
more wickets.
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| Dhoni and Kohli |
The Kiwi fast bowler trio of Boult, Southee who replaced Martin for this
Test and Bracewell utilized the heavy conditions and came seaming and swinging
at the Indian batsmen. They were ably supported by sharp New Zealand
fielding. Very soon India was
reduced to 80 for 4 and New
Zealand looked to be in full command. The
opener duo of Gambhir and Sehwag failed again making it the tenth consecutive
time, the former falling cheaply to Southee who removed Pujara too at the team
score of 27. Bracewell removed a very defensive Sehwag (43) and Southee took
his third wicket in the form of Sachin Tendulkar (17) clean bowling him through
the gap between bat and pad. This was the second time in this series that
Tendulkar was bowled through the gate.
In came Virat Kohli for a classic innings one more time. First he added
99 runs in a partnership with Suresh Raina (55) and then with skipper Dhoni (46
not out) added 104 runs in an unbeaten partnership. Virat Kohli was on the
verge of another brilliant century making an unbeaten 93 runs at stumps.
Barring rain interruptions the second Test is set for an exciting finish. The Scorecard So Far!
