India Grind Their Way Back Into Contention
Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir plays a rare attacking stroke watched by Brendon McCullum.
©REUTERS/Anthony Phelps (NEW ZEALAND SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images
New Zealand 619-9 dec (Ryder 201, McCullum 115, Sharma 3-96) v
India 305 (Dravid 83) & 252-2 (Gambhir 102no, Dravid 62)
Scorecard | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3Second Test, McLean Park, Napier, day four: stumps
By
Graham WilsonGautam Gambhir scored a century as India closed day four of the second Test against New Zealand in Napier on 252 for two in their second innings.
Gambhir was unbeaten on 102 having faced 290 balls while similar patient innings from Rahul Dravid (62 in 220 balls) and Sachin Tendulkar (58 from 113 balls) ensured that India were not going to be bowled out cheaply or quickly second time round.
They are following on after New Zealand bowled them out for 305 in reply to 619 for nine declared and they remain 62 rus adrift.
Gambhir and Dravid batted through the morning session, sharing 133 runs for the second wicket before Dravid was caught by Jamie How off Daniel Vettori. He had hit six fours and a six in his innings.
Tendulkar batted more freely, stroking eight fours and a six, a pull that came off the back of his bat, before Gambhir reached his fifth Test century shortly before stumps. He has so far hit 14 fours as New Zealand used eight bowlers in an attempt to break Gambhir's resolve.
Jesse Ryder (201) and Brendon McCullum (115) set up New Zealand's first innings score before Chris Martin took three wickets in India's first innings.
India lead the series 1-0 after a ten-wicket win in Hamilton.
© Cricket World 2009
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