Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh frustrated New Zealand with the bat once again, smashing 85 runs off 82 balls on the third day of the second Test yesterday.
The tailender hammered five sixes and seven fours to add an unbeaten 69 for the last wicket with Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (14 not out), taking India to 436-9 at the close at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.
Harbhajan’s onslaught followed his maiden Test century that helped India to a draw against the Kiwis in Ahmedabad.
New Zealand bowlers, led by Daniel Vettori (4-123), had reduced India to 367-9 but Harbhajan’s defiant knock ensured India finished the day with a handy 86-run lead.
Harbhajan cut, pulled and drove with belligerence to enthrall a 30,000-strong weekend crowd, helping India pile up 113 runs in the final session.
The tourists claimed the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar early into the first session when Daniel Vettori lured him into playing an ambitious shot on the on-side.
Tendulkar failed to connect with the ball properly and edged to Taylor who leapt into the air to take a fine one-handed catch at first slip.
PAKISTAN V S AFRICA
AFP, DUBAI, united arab emirates
South Africa held the upper hand in the first Test against Pakistan after paceman Morne Morkel grabbed five wickets and off-spinner Johan Botha took three on the third day at the Dubai Stadium yesterday.
South Africa reached 139-2 at stumps to increase their overall lead to 271 with eight wickets in hand on a deteriorating pitch which is likely to take spin and have low bounce as the game progresses.
Hashim Amla, with 44, and Jacques Kallis, on 32, were unbeaten at stumps after Morkel (5-54) and Botha (3-61) helped South Africa wrap up Pakistan’s first innings on 248, gaining a lead of 132.
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