Harbhajan Singh Century Saves Ahmedabad Test

Harbhajan Singh Century Saves Ahmedabad Test

VVS Laxman stroked 91 to help India save the first Test against New Zealand in Ahmedabad

©REUTERS/Amit Dave (INDIA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

India 487 (Sehwag 173) & 266 (Harbhajan Singh 115) drew with
New Zealand 459 (Williamson 131) & 22-1
First Test, Ahmedabad
Scorecard

Harbhajan Singh's maiden Test century enabled India to comfortably draw the opening match against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.

The off-spinner made 115 in 193 balls and put on 163 for the seventh wicket with VVS Laxman, who made 91, as India recovered from 65 for five to post 266 in their second innings.

By the time they were dismissed, there was insufficient time left in the game for New Zealand to chase down their target of 295 and they closed on 22 for one after ten overs.

India had on day four been reduced to 15 for five but staged an admirable comeback as Harbhajan stroked 11 fours and hit three sixes as he powered past his career-best score of 69 - achieved in the first innings.

Laxman offered excellent support, facing 253 deliveries and hitting nine fours before a thick edge onto his pad was not spotted by the umpire and he was given out leg before to Daniel Vettori.

Vettori struck again next ball in similar circumstances to dismiss Zaheer Khan without scoring and with New Zealand struggling with injuries to key bowlers, extended spells for Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor earnt the latter a haul of two for four when he had Harbhajan caught by BJ Watling and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth caught by wicket-keeper Gareth Hopkins for four.

Tim McIntosh then completed a poor game by picking up a pair as he was trapped in front by Zaheer although New Zealand survived the remaining nine overs comfortably enough with McCullum unbeaten on 11 and Watling not out on two.

The second Test in the three-match series begins in Kanpur on 12th November.