India dominate day two

Sehwag and Gambhir charge through New Zealand bowling attack to take control on day two of second Test.

Gautam Gambhir
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Sehwag leads the charge for India as New Zealand wicket keeper Gareth Hopkins looks on [AFP]

Openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir gave India a flying start after their bowlers triggered a New Zealand batting collapse on the second day of the second Test in Hyderabad.

The hosts were 178 for two at the close, trailing by 172 runs, with Rahul Dravid (7) and Sachin Tendulkar (11) at the crease.

Resuming on 258 for four on Saturday after Tim McIntosh’s opening day ton, New Zealand added just 92 runs for the loss of six wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Sehwag (96) then tore into the Kiwi bowling, and put on 160 for the first wicket with Gambhir (54), before being bowled by captain Daniel Vettori while attempting a slog sweep.

Impressive

The swashbuckling Sehwag shifted gears after completing his half-century and hit 15 boundaries and a huge six during his 120-ball stay.

Gambhir, desperate for a big score after a recent poor run of form, compiled a gritty half-century. He fell soon after his opening partner, caught down the legside off paceman Tim Southee.

Earlier, in a fiery spell, left-armer Zaheer Khan (4-69) trapped Gareth Hopkins (4) and Kane Williamson (4) leg before as he swung the ball back from around the wicket.

Spinner Harbhajan Singh chipped in by removing Vettori (11), Jesse Ryder (70), Southee (10) and Chris Martin (3) to foil New Zealand’s chances of a formidable first-innings score.

Ryder took the attack to India with ten boundaries. He was particularly punishing on an erratic Shanthakumaran Sreesanth before edging Harbhajan to Vangipurappu Laxman in the slips.

The three-match series is tied at 0-0 after the opening Test was drawn in Ahmedabad.

Source: Reuters