INDIA’S Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh picked up four wickets apiece to trigger a New Zealand batting collapse as the visitors folded up for 350 in their first innings of the second Test on Saturday (November 13).
Resuming on a strong overnight score of 258-4 built on Tim McIntosh’s opening day ton, New Zealand added just 92 runs for the loss of six batsmen on day two at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadiumin Hyderabad.
A watchful opening duo of Virender Sehwag (28) and Gautam Gambhir (29) then took India to 62 runs without loss at tea, continuing the hosts’ dominance on the second day.
In a fiery spell of left-arm swing bowling, Khan (4-69) trapped right-handers Gareth Hopkins (4) and Kane Williamson (4) leg before as he managed to get the ball to swing back from around the wicket.
Harbhajan then joined in the fun for the hosts by dismissing Daniel Vettori (11), Jesse Ryder (70), Tim Southee (10) and Chris Martin (3) to foil New Zealand’s chances of setting a formidable first innings score. Ryder was the lone batsman to provide resistance as he took the attack to the hosts, hitting 10 boundaries in his knock.
He was particularly punishing on an erratic Shanthakumaran Sreesanth before he edged Harbhajan to Vangipurappu Laxman in the lone slip position.
The three-match series is tied at 0-0 after the opening Test was drawn in Ahmedabad.
