New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori’s decision to bat first misfired yesterday when the India bowlers ripped through the top order to wrest control in the deciding third Test.
Seamers Ishant Sharma and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha picked up two wickets each to reduce New Zealand to 148 for seven at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
Brendon McCullum (34) and Tim Southee (7) were at the crease at the close of the shortened day, marred by a wet outfield that delayed the start of play in the third Test — the first two were drawn — by three hours.
PHOTO: AFP
Martin Guptill edged a beautiful outswinger from Sreesanth to India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps, while fellow opener Tim McIntosh was late on another swinging delivery from the paceman to find his stumps uprooted.
Sharma then removed Ross Taylor leg before wicket and Vettori played on to a short delivery to compound New Zealand’s miseries.
Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha dismissed Kane Williamson, who scooped one straight to Virender Sehwag at short-cover, and Gareth Hopkins, who was smartly caught by Suresh Raina in the slips.
Jesse Ryder (59), who limped throughout his innings after aggravating a calf injury, added a crucial 42 runs for the seventh wicket with McCullum.
Raina took another low catch in the covers to get rid of Ryder, who tried to go hard at offspinner Harbhajan Singh.
The visitors gambled by including McCullum, who injured himself during his warm-up, hoping that the last Test’s double centurion could bat in the middle order.
McCullum, who had opened in the last two matches, walked in at No. 8 and New Zealand’s hopes for a sizeable first-innings total will rest firmly on him.
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