The India vs New Zealand 2nd test match that is being played at Hyderabad has turned out to be a very interesting test match, as New Zealand batsman, Tim McIntosh has scored a century but was sadly sent back to the pavilion after being bowled by Zaheer Khan. McIntosh scored 102 runs which was very impressive, one of the best since the tour begun.

New Zealand was struggling during the first hour of the day against the Indian bowling attack, but later eased out the game in style. The other player who looked staunch was Guptil, who too was sent back after scoring a impressive 85 runs. It was noticed that accept these two batsmen, no one else has managed to score good runs on the New Zealand’s score sheet.

New Zealand would need to focus strongly before the day comes to an end, and especially try make a legible score, so as the Indians would need to fight against. India on the other hand is still playing on its cruise mode, it seems its about time, they should shift gears by now and move strongly against New Zealand.

The India vs New Zealand first test match in Ahmadabad finally ended in a draw, after both teams showcased an exceptionally beautiful game of Cricket. New Zealand is the team that was quite happy, and especially facing a 4-0 defeat in Bangladesh, the team has fought back really well. India on the other hand still remains no.1 in test rankings, as they made a miraculous comeback in their second innings after they were 15/5.

Harbhajan Singh was awarded the man of the match, where he thanked the team and VVS Laxman who supported him to play positive cricket. In Ahmadabad, he managed to score his first test hundred which he will be surely remembering forever.

There were some skeptical moments in the game, for eg. Laxman’s dismissal was quite controversial. But everything ended well, there was some really good quality of cricket witnessed in India, and indeed New Zealand enjoyed it the most. New Zealand ended the day’s play with 22/1 on the score board, which was a very calm response to India’s 266 runs.

The first test match played between India vs New Zealand in Ahmadabad had come to a point where the Indian team was staring at defeat and every run from there on was as precious as it could have been. At 15/5, India was standing at shames rock, as the whole team could have collapsed easily without scoring triple figures, but thanks to Harbhajan Singh and VVS Laxman, they stood on the crease firm and provided India a miraculous 200+ runs lead.

The spotlight during the second innings was Harbhajan Singh, as he scored his second half century during this match, and indeed it has been an impressive innings by him. The reason of the Indian batting being packed up so early during their innings was Chris Martin, whose ferocious bowling attacked whizzed the Indian batsmen.

VVS Laxman once again proved that the aging warhorse can still stand tall in such battles and he too completed his half century, by securing India by givinging a fair lead to their opponents. It will be up to New Zealand now, as how they opt to pluck Harbhajan and Laxman’s wicket, and halt their consistent march in gaining a strong lead.

The India vs New Zealand test match in Ahmadabad, has now taken a very dramatical turn with the Kiwi’s struggling to keep up with the Indian bowlers, as they are striking wickets at regular intervals. At the close of the first day’s play, India had managed to pluck two New Zealand wickets, but as of the second day, the story remained the same, as the New Zealanders were having a tough time on the pitch facing the India spin attack.

It seemed that the New Zealand batting line-up would be unleashing against the Indian bowlers, as there have been huge flaws of inconsistency in the India bowling department. Thanks to Pragyan Ojha and Harbhajan Singh, as they managed to pluck McCullum and Ross Taylor, who looked to be very dangerous to the Indian side.

For now the New Zealand seems to have stabilized, and are playing firmly against India, with Williamson and Ryder on the crease, they are the only promising hope to stand against India’s 487 piled in the first innings.

Read More

Into the last session of India vs New Zealand 1st test match which is being played in Ahmadabad, Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid have provided a strong foundation for India for this test match, by scoring centuries. Both of the front line batsmen have scored a century respectively, with Sehwag almost nearing his double ton, after being bowled by Vettori on 173.

With India scoring at a blazing pace and crossing the 300 run mark in the first day itself, the New Zealand team were left standing still, as they started to bring in options of how to grab some Indian wickets and slow them down. But as a matter of fact, they managed to do so after they clinched Rahul and Sehwag.

But the spotlight today was placed on Rahul Dravid, as he aimed to comeback with a bang into test cricket. He had been suffering badly in his previous series and especially after being injured in Dhaka earlier this year, he was really looking forward towards the game on Thursday. For now India is on the driver’s seat in this match, and they look to be steering well, and by the end of the first day’s play they are 329/3.

It is the 1st test match of India vs New Zealand in Ahmadabad, and India’s fiery batsman, Virender Sehwag has stolen the show during the first session. He smacked the Kiwi bowlers almost everywhere around the ground, as he was looking very comfortable a strong. At the beginning of the day’s play, Dhoni seemed to be very happy after winning the toss, as he stated that he of course wanted to bat first.

Witnessing Sehwag, it seemed that he could be creating history, by being the fifth batsman in world cricket to score a hundred in the first session itself, but sadly it did not happen, and India were 127/1 at lunch.

For the moment it is India that it on the drivers seat, with Sehwag firm and strong, and Rahul Dravid playing some careful shots, as he tries to make a comeback into the test match scenario. What looks from here on is that if India keeps on going this way, they sure will manage to score a massive run mount at the end of their innings.

The first test match of India vs New Zealand will begin on the 4th of November, and the main question that has arose, is whether the Great Indian Wall – Rahul Dravid would stand firm against New Zealand. Rahul Dravid has not been performing to his best since a really long time now, so the upcoming series against New Zealand will be an opportunity for him to retain his lost form once again.

Rahul at times has proved his importance in the Indian test team, as he has stood on the pitch when India needed him the most. But earlier this year, after he was struck by Bangladeshi bowler Shahadat Hossain with a bouncer and made him land in the hospital, since then his career just took a u-turn.

He is well known for his style of playing on the front foot and also the classic square that he has mastered. Speaking about his injury in Dhaka and his decline in performance, Dravid seems to have been very concerned about it, but has never really commented on it. During the practice session in Ahmadabad, he looked very focused and serious, as he wanted to make a statement on Thursday’s game. And it is indeed very necessary for him to do so, as he does have some more time to spend in the Indian Cricket test squad, amidst the upcoming youngsters.

The latest cricketing series, India vs New Zealand is about to commence in Ahmadabad on the 4th of November with the first test match of the series, and also this is an auspicious moment for the New Zealand captain, Daniel Vettori, as he will be playing his 100th test in Ahmadabad. This is indeed a very special moment for Vettori, as he will be the second player in his country to have played more than 100 test matches after Stephen Fleming.

When he was asked how he was feeling for his 100th test match, he said “It’s a great honour for me and something I would really cherish all my life. It’s been an amazing journey”. He is very excited and is looking for a positive result in his 100th test against India.

India on the other, will not be taking New Zealand lightly, as India is on top of the test ranking table, it will see that it maintains this position. Vettori will be aiming to complete 400 wickets in his career, and become the first player to have 400 wickets and 4000 runs in his profile. We wish him the best of luck so that he can achieve this feat.

Virender Sehwag, one of India’s key batsmen has scored a century against New Zealand on Wednesday. His century came at a very good time as India was on a streak of losing another game and exiting the One Day tri-series. India was at 170/4 when Sehwag scored the hundred. But soon Sehwag was out at 110.

Virender Sehwag has always been a key player for India, and is said to be the next reliable batsmen after the great Sachin Tendulkar. Yuvraj once again failed to fire during the match against the Kiwis, as he tried to play a pull shot and got caught out by the New Zealand wicket keeper.

India has to win this match on any condition if it wants to book a place in the finals of the tri series. India till now has not performed to its best in Sri Lanka, but we have to wait and see today’s match, if India can once more do a miracle and place itself in the finals. India are now trailing at 209/9, soon after Sehwag’s departure India collapsed subsequently.

India vs New Zealand is going to be the first match of the tri-series that is organized in Sri Lanka. India will be taking on New Zealand today at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Sri Lanka, at 14.30 pm local time, i.e. 09.00 am GMT.

The Indian squad is ready though but will be missing some of their important players like, Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, and Gautam Gambhir. Even Zaheer Khan’s shoulder injury is looking a bit worrisome for the Indian bowling attack. New Zealand are not in a better shape either.

New Zealand on the other hand will strictly miss Daniel Vettori, their captain and spin spear head, for he is back home in New Zealand to welcome his second child which his wife delivered recently. Jesse Ryder and Brenden McCullum are abscent from the squad, and they are a feared batting duo from New Zealand. Both the team standings are as -
India: 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Dinesh Karthik/Virat Kohli, 3 Rohit Sharma, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 Suresh Raina, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Praveen Kumar, 9 Abhimanyu Mithun, 10 Pragyan Ojha, 11 Ashish Nehra.

New Zealand: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Peter Ingram, 3 Ross Taylor (capt), 4 Kane Williamson, 5 Scott Styris, 6 Grant Elliott, 7 Gareth Hopkins (wk), 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Daryl Tuffey, 10 Kyle Mills, 11 Tim Southee/Andy McKay

Match coverage and ball by ball score sheet can be viewed on – http://www.cricinfo.com/