The Hindu : Sport : Zaheer Khan clips Kiwis’ wings

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Zaheer Khan clips Kiwis’ wings

S. Ram Mahesh

Dhoni pouches six behind the stumps for an Indian record

— Photo: AFP

SMART WORK: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, seen snapping up Ross Taylor, had an excellent day behind the wickets to finish with six victims.

WELLINGTON: After a manic first day, which for most part was a battle of parity, India bullied the third Test its way on the second here at the Basin Reserve, thanks mainly to Zaheer Khan, who took five wickets, but also Harbhajan Singh and M.S. Dhoni.

Saturday lent itself to the bowlers. Not overtly, for the atmosphere didn’t thicken with moisture allowing the ball to rebel against it and veer off course. The wicket certainly didn’t worsen in any manner. But a brisk breeze blew across the Basin Reserve all day: despite its whims with regard to direction, Zaheer found he could use it for swing; Harbhajan saw in it the possibilities of curling drift.

Dhoni benefits

Dhoni benefited behind the sticks, completing six catches, which is an Indian record for the most in an innings. (Syed Kirmani once had six dismissals, but they comprised five catches and a stumping).

India dismissed New Zealand for 197 in 65 overs, gaining a first-innings lead of 182 — seemingly enough security, taken together with the 1-0 lead, for its first series win in New Zealand since 1967-68.

Virender Sehwag’s tour as a batsman ended late in the day, Chris Martin getting one to both climb and cut back for a catch to first slip. But India suffered no further casualties in its second innings on Saturday, finishing on 51 for one from 16 overs.

Earlier, the remainder of India’s first innings, which resumed on 375 for nine, lasted eight minutes, Martin getting Ishant Sharma to edge behind. But if New Zealand had designs of batting once and batting big, they were quickly scuppered.

Experience shows

Bowling with the wind from the Vance Stand, Zaheer took the first four wickets in two spells, of eight and six overs, either side of lunch. Involved in these spells were the rich wealth of the left-armer’s experience, his knowledge of both his craft and the games of the opposition batsmen, fine — though not exceptional — skill, an extra yard of pace (late 130 to early 140 kmph), and some much-needed fortune.

Zaheer had nailed Martin Guptill with a bouncer at Napier, so he reprised the length. But he changed up the geometry, switching to around the wicket. As a result, the lifter followed Guptill, cramping him. What the angle also did was trigger an involuntary change in Guptill’s back-lift, and, consequently, his bat-swing.

The batsman’s altered alignment, and the absence of a movement across with the back leg, meant the bat was lifted towards long-leg before descent; naturally it arrived slanted, prime for chopping on to the stumps.

The left-handed Daniel Flynn received a delivery no batsman wants early in an innings. It landed in the corridor of uncertainty, offered to shape away off the wicket and became Dhoni’s first catch of the innings.

Opener Tim McIntosh, whose footwork against the full ball registered a marked improvement this innings, was hurried by a nasty snorter to be caught at first slip. Jesse Ryder then launched himself at a short, wide one, toe-ending to the keeper.

Zaheer returned after tea for his fifth wicket. Tim Southee showed an inclination to mow across the line, and Zaheer, having provoked a top edge, decided it was best he complete the job. In moments he was engulfed by his mates.

In between wickets four and five for Zaheer, Harbhajan dismissed Ross Taylor and James Franklin. Taylor, who had looked in no discomfort during his 42, tried glancing an off-break from around the wicket — an interesting angle of attack to the right-hander, enhanced by Harbhajan’s away-drift — and found to his dismay that Dhoni had moved across to glove it. Although Snicko didn’t register a nick, Taylor later confirmed he had touched it. Franklin couldn’t keep a sweep down, and was caught at square-leg.

Ishant, who had struggled into the wind, returned from the other end to test Daniel Vettori with fast, short deliveries. Although Vettori flayed a four and a six, Ishant had succeeded in pinning him on the crease.

The ball of fuller length followed — to its credit, it also straightened off the seam, finding the inside edge. Dhoni then did splendidly to hold Brendon McCullum off Harbhajan, for the deflection was substantial.

Munaf Patel ended matters, providing Dhoni his sixth catch, and it was time for the Indians to again acknowledge their bowling leader for a game-breaking achievement.

SCOREBOARD

India - 1st innings: G. Gambhir lbw b Franklin 23 (47b, 2x4); V. Sehwag c McCullum b OBrien 48 (51b, 7x4, 1x6); R. Dravid c Franklin b Martin 35 (114b, 3x4); S. Tendulkar c McCullum b Martin 62 (85b, 11x4); V.V.S. Laxman c McIntosh b Southee 4 (16b); Yuvraj lbw b Ryder 9 (12b, 2x4); M.S. Dhoni c OBrien b Southee 52 (89b, 6x4, 1x6); Harbhajan c Vettori b Martin 60 (78b, 7x4, 1x6); Zaheer c McCullum b OBrien 33 (23b, 6x4); Ishant c McCullum b Martin 18 (31b, 2x4); Munaf (not out) 15 (14b, 3x4); Extras (b-2, lb-8, nb-7, w-3) 20; Total (in 92.1 overs) 379.

Fall of wickets: 1-73 (Sehwag), 2-75 (Gambhir), 3-165 (Tendulkar), 4- 173 (Laxman), 5-182 (Yuvraj), 6-204 (Dravid), 7-283 (Dhoni), 8-315 (Harbhajan), 9-347 (Harbhajan).

New Zealand bowling: Martin 25.1-3-98-4, Southee 18-1-94-2, O'Brien 22-3-89-2, Franklin 14-4-38-1, Vettori 9-1-47-0, Ryder 4-2-3-1. New Zealand - 1st innings: T. McIntosh c Yuvraj b Zaheer 32 (74b, 6x4); M. Guptill b Zaheer 17 (23b, 2x4); D. Flynn c Dhoni b Zaheer 2 (8b); R. Taylor c Dhoni b Harbhajan 42 (92b, 6x4); J. Ryder c Dhoni b Zaheer 3 (12b); J. Franklin c Sehwag b Harbhajan 15 (42b, 2x4); B. McCullum c Dhoni b Harbhajan 24 (56b, 2x4); D. Vettori c Dhoni b Ishant 11 (13b, 1x4, 1x6); T. Southee c & b Zaheer 16 (27b, 3x4); I. O'Brien c Dhoni b Munaf 19 (38b, 1x4); C. Martin (not out) 4 (5b, 1x4); Extras (b-9, lb-3) 12; Total (in 65 overs) 197.

Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Guptill), 2-31 (Flynn), 3-80 (McIntosh), 4-98 (Ryder), 5-120 (Taylor), 6-125 (Franklin), 7-138 (Vettori), 8-160 (Southee), 9- 181 (McCullum).

India bowling: Zaheer 18-2-65-5, Ishant 14-3-47-1, Munaf 8-2-20-1, Harbhajan 23-4-43-3, Yuvraj 2-0-10-0. India - 2nd innings: G. Gambhir (batting) 28 (45b, 4x4); V. Sehwag c Taylor b Martin 12 (7b, 3x4); R. Dravid (batting) 9 (44b, 1x4); Extras (lb-2) 2; Total (for one wicket in 16 overs) 51.

Fall of wicket: 1-14 (Sehwag). New Zealand bowling: Southee 3-0-13-0, Martin 4-2-13-1, O' Brien 5- 2-8-0, Franklin 3-0-15-0, Ryder 1-1-0-0.

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