Napier Test: India has to trail kiwis by 540 runs

Napier Test: India has to trail kiwis by 540 runs

Napier: India dug themselves into a hole by losing three quick wickets after an insipid bowling display allowed a spirited New Zealand to pile up a mammoth first innings total and take control of the second cricket Test in Napier on Friday.

The Kiwis rode on Jesse Ryder's (201) maiden double century and Brendon McCullum's strokeful 115 to rattle up 619 for nine declared, their highest against India on home soil, on a placid track at the McLean Park.

The Indians, whose fielding left much to be desired and the bowling lacked the sting, were at a jittery 79 for three at close of the second day which was completely dominated by the Blackcaps.

Needing 341 runs to avoid the ignominy of follow on, the experienced duo of Rahul Dravid (21) and Sachin Tendulkar (0) will now have to bat out of their skin to save India the blushes.

VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik are the other recognised batsmen and all of them have to come good if India hope to prevent the Kiwis from equalling the three-match series.

India's ploy of sending Ishant Sharma (0) as the nightwatchman backfired as he fell in the penultimate over of the day, forcing Tendulkar to come out and face seven deliveries.

In the familiar company of his Delhi teammate Gambhir (16), Sehwag (34) began in his characteristic swashbuckling way, imposing himself on the Kiwi bowlers.

New Zealand got a chance to remove him when Sehwag was on 21 but Martin Guptill's throw missed the stumps by a whisker with the opener nowhere in the frame.

Fortunately for them, the lapse didn't prove costly. Sehwag, having hit Daniel Vettori for a six in the previous delivery, went for a wild slog-sweep only to bottom edge it to Brendon McCullum behind the stumps and perish after a 25-ball 34.

Jeetan Patel then removed Gambhir and Vettori trapped Ishant for a duck to compound India's problem.

Earlier, Jesse Ryder's 201, his second hundred against India in three innings, proved the fulcrum around which New Zealand recovered from a shaky 23 for three to stack up an intimidating first innings total.

The stocky left-hander batted with great resolve throughout his 490-minute tenure at the crease, inspiring three significant partnerships which drove India to despair. A powerful striker of the ball, he showed great ability to moderate his innings, defending when the bowlers demanded respect, attacking when they strayed in line and length.

There were moments when Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma troubled him with deliveries that slanted away from him, but he dug in heels to ensure that New Zealand would keep the series bubbling until the third Test at Wellington.

Ryder, resuming at his overnight 137, became only the third Kiwi to score a double hundred against India. Understandably, he was disappointed at casting away his wicket when he dragged Zaheer on to his sticks, immediately after bringing up his 200 off a disdainful pull. It was sad that a man who had been patient and watchful while consuming 328 deliveries, was to fling his willow in dismay as he entered the dressing room.

It wasn't Ryder's day alone at the McLean Park. James Franklin made a dignified 52 before falling victim to a misjudged single when Yuvraj relayed the ball to wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik as he reluctantly responded to a call from Ryder. The pair raised 121 runs for the fifth wicket, following the record 271 Ryder and Ross Taylor had assimilated yesterday.

McCullum and Vettori (55) piled on India's agony in the post-lunch session, garnering 128 runs with effortless ease for the seventh wicket.

McCullum got into overdrive the moment he arrived at the crease, caning the bowlers who were by now listless and disheartened. Cuts, pulls and drives blazed from his willow as he raced to his third Test hundred. With a declaration imminently around the corner, he chopped Ishant to Tendulkar at deep point.

Vettori, reprieved by Ishant at mid-off off Sehwag when he was on 37, went to complete his fifty before dragging a distant Ishant ball on to his off peg.

Zaheer, who developed a sore back after hurtling 34 overs, was the pick of the Indian bowlers (3 for 129), though Ishant Sharma also finished with three for 95.