As New Zealand prepare to face India in a Test series, staring on Thursday at Kanpur, we look back at how the Kiwis fared during their last two visits to India. In part one, we look at New Zealand tour of India in 2010. India and New Zealand played three Tests during the series, which the hosts ended up winning 1-0.
1st Test at Ahmedabad: India won the toss in the first innings and posted an impressive 487 all out. Virender Sehwag led the way with a stupendous 173 from 199 balls. Rahul Dravid also made 104. In the lower order, Harbhajan Singh chipped in with a fluent 69. India were expected to put the Kiwis under pressure, but New Zealand replied in brilliant fashion. Kane Williamson made a memorable 131 on debut to announce himself on the big stage. Jesse Ryder, who has failed to keep his career afloat after an impressive start, also made a hundred. Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor chipped in with fifties as New Zealand replied with 459.
India crumbled to 66 for 5 in response, but VVS Laxman’s 91, and a belligerent hundred from Harbhajan rescued them as India held on for a draw.
2nd Test at Hyderabad: New Zealand won the toss in the second Test, and chose to bat first. They finished with a reasonable 350, with opener Tim McIntosh making 102, while Martin Guptill and Ryder chipped in with 85 and 70. Zaheer Khan, and Harbhajan claimed four wickets each. India responded with 474. For the second Test in a row, Harbhajan made a hundred lower down the order. Sehwag fell just short of a hundred while Laxman contributed 74. Daniel Vettori took a five-for for New Zealand.
In the second innings, McCullum smashed a memorable double hundred to ensure the match ended in a draw. Opening the innings, he blasted 225 from 308 balls, with 22 fours and 4 sixes. Williamson was the other significant contributor with 69 as India’s bowlers failed to make an impression.
3rd Test at Nagpur: India won the toss, and chose to bowl first. The bowlers set up the match brilliantly by bowling out the visitors for 193. Ishant Sharma stood out with four wickets while Pragyan Ojha picked up three. Ryder was the only New Zealand batsman to make a half-century. In reply, India piled on 566 for 8 declared. Dravid proved to be the wall again, with a massive 191 from 396 balls with 21 fours, staying at the crease for over 570 minutes. There were contributions all around. MS Dhoni made a quick 98 while Gambhir and Sehwag contributed 70s. Sachin Tendulkar also chipped in with 61.
In the second innings, New Zealand crumbled to 175 all out to hand India victory by an innings and 198 runs. Ishant and Harbhajan claimed three wickets each while Ojha and Suresh Raina picked up two each.
--By A Cricket Analyst
