The Hindu : Sport : Vettori laments lost chance

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Vettori laments lost chance

— Photo: AFP

WELL PLAYED: Ross Taylor stood firm for New Zealand with a determined century in the second innings.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori lamented a lost opportunity to win the third Test against India at the Basin Reserve when his bowlers reduced the visitor to 204 for six on the first day on a good batting wicket.

India’s tail, however, wagged with the last four batsmen adding another 175 runs. Buoyed by that success, its bowlers dismissed New Zealand for 197 on the second day, giving it an 182-run lead and advantage it never relinquished.

“I still look back and say 200 for six you’d take that any day of the week,” Vettori told reporters.

“The way we had bowled had put us in a position to be on the front foot throughout the game and we just didn’t quite get our plans right in that later part.

Paying the price

“We bowled too short to the Indian tail and they got away on us. We didn’t take the opportunities that were there and against good sides if you don’t do that you struggle.”

Vettori admitted he had been a little surprised at India’s tactics in its second innings when it resumed batting on the fourth day despite having a 531-run lead and the high probability of rain on the fifth day.

“I suppose you can understand whether it would rain or not, but they dominated the Test so they had the prerogative or the right to make the declaration any time they wanted to.

“Their bowlers were fresh. I think if it had been us we would have tried to do it earlier because of the nature of our attack and we would have needed more time.

“But they bowled us out in 65 overs in the first innings so I’m sure they backed themselves to do it again.”

Among the top three

Vettori said India deserved to be bracketed with Australia and South Africa at the peak of world cricket.

“They’re obviously starting to prove themselves away from home,” he said.

“I think you can throw Australia, South Africa and India in there as the three best teams in the world, it’s hard to distinguish between the three at the moment.”

Patchy

The skipper said his side’s patchy performances continued to frustrate their attempts to rise higher up the world Test rankings.

“We’ve been inconsistent but we’ve only lost one Test match. I think people have to remember that,” he said. — Agencies

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