Rahul Dravid scored his 31st Test century but Sachin Tendulkar again missed out on his much-awaited 50th ton as India reached 386 for five at lunch, on the third day of the final Test match against New Zealand at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha here today.
Rahul Dravid scored his 31st Test century but Sachin Tendulkar again missed out on his much-awaited 50th ton as India reached 386 for five at lunch, on the third day of the final Test match against New Zealand at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha here today.
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The hosts now enjoy a healthy lead of 193 runs which is expected to increase further as the day progresses. Dravid (105 batting, 273 balls, 12x4), who has had an indifferent time before the start of this Test series now has two centuries to show for his effort having scored another in the first Test at Ahmebabad.
u00a0It wasn't one of his smoothest of efforts as it was more about patience and intense concentration.
Nevertheless, it was an effort that worth its weight in gold, considering there was a mini-slump in the morning session, when Sachin Tendulkar (61), VVS Laxman (10) and Suresh Raina (3) were back in the pavilion in quick succession.
Along with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (35 batting, 48 balls, 6x4), Dravid added 58 runs for the sixth wicket to consolidate India's position in the match.
The moment he tucked Daniel Vettori to square leg for a double, it was more about the release of pressure than celebration for the former India captain.
It took him 256 balls and 384 minutes to complete the ton having hit 12 boundaries in the process.
Dhoni, who has also faced a lot of flak of late for his subdued batting, looked to hit his way out of bad patch with a flurry of boundaries of the pace bowlers.
Some of the shots reminded the Dhoni of three years back when he used to attack the bowlers with great gusto.
The whole country waited in anticipation of Sachin Tendulkar's 50th Test century but it was disappointment as he was out as early as second over of the day.
Needing 43 runs to complete what would have been a first in the history of Test cricket, debutant Andy McKay got rid of the iconic batsman of the very third ball he faced.
After steering the left-arm pacer to the third-man boundary, McKay got one to lift from short of good length.
The awkward bounce forced Sachin to get squared up and the snick was gleefully gobbled up by Gareth Hopkins standing behind the stumps. Sachin scored 61 off 129 deliveries with the help of eight boundaries.
For McKay, who has waited in the wings for several years, it couldn't have been a more memorable first Test wicket.
For the thousands of Tendulkar fans, they would now have to wait in anticipation till the Test series in South Africa starts as it looks unlikely that the legendary batsman would get a chance to complete the landmark if India bat last.
VVS Laxman (10) who has enjoyed a fantastic season so far started off in style with a short-arm pull of McKay and caressing the same bowler through the covers.
However Chris Martin bowled a lethal inswinger that sent the Hyderabad batsman's leg-stump cartwheeling.
There was absolutely no footwork from Laxman as he remained rooted in his crease.
The movement was sharp and the ball had the pace which undid Laxman.
Dravid, however, remained solid at the other end although he failed to get the scoreboard moving.
In fact he scored his first run of the day in the seventh over. He did punish the loose deliveries as one bowled by Southee on his legs was whipped away to mid-wicket boundary.
He also pulled a short one from McKay to the square leg boundary.
Raina, who is in woeful form of late, didn't last long offering a simple bat-pad catch off Daniel Vettori to substitute Brian Watling standing at forward short leg.
However Dhoni's positive intent helped Dravid to concentrate carry on a repair job with Dhoni being the dominant partner.
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