Close New Zealand 201 for 7 (Richardson 83*) lead India 161 all out by 40 runs
Scorecard

A late burst of wickets salvaged a day that had been going terribly wrong for India, and brought them back into the Test match. At 181 for 3, New Zealand were leading by 20 runs, and looking to shut India out of the contest.

Then, in a show starring Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, four wickets fell for the addition of just 20 runs, and the complexion of the match changed suddenly. By close of play, New Zealand led by just 40, with only three wickets in hand.

Through all the mayhem at the other end, Mark Richardson batted on serenely in a display which was reminiscent of Rahul Dravid's in the Indian innings.

Showing excellent judgement around off stump and playing close to his body, Richardson showed all the virtues which have made him such a vital cog in the New Zealand batting line-up, and was undefeated on 83. He got a life on 63, but that would detract only marginally from an excellent performance.

Midway through the final session of a truncated day's play - more than four hours were lost as a result of a soggy outfield due to overnight rain - India's only chance seemed to be more torrential rain through most of the next three days.

Then, Sourav Ganguly threw the ball to Zaheer, and like he has done so often recently, Zaheer responded in style. Improving with each spell as the day wore on, Zaheer produced a brute of a snorter which lobbed off Astle's bat to Harbhajan at square cover (181 for 4), ending his innings for 41 and the partnership of 70.

Harbhajan took over thereafter. First, a straighter one left Scott Styris hopelessly stranded as he sashayed down the track (182 for 5). In his next over, Jacob Oram was sent on his way by Asoka de Silva, offering no stroke while on the forward stretch (186 for 6).

Robbie Hart (6) hung on for dear life, surviving 41 balls before Zaheer returned for the penultimate over of the day, trapping Hart in front (201 for 7). The ball seemed to be climbing over the top of the stumps, but Daryl Harper thought otherwise, and Ganguly and his team closed the day in good cheer.

Earlier, India seemed to have lost a glorious opportunity to claw back into the match in the period immediately after tea, as Astle and Richardson consolidated the innings after two wickets fell in quick succession.

The 70-minute first session of the day was fruitless for India, but Zaheer struck in the second over after the break, getting through Stephen Fleming's defences for 25 (96 for 2). Then, Sanjay Bangar, the most disciplined Indian bowler on view, trapped Craig McMillan (9) in front (111 for 3). Both dismissals came as result of well-pitched-up deliveries, showing, once again, the virtues of a fuller length.

India kept kept up the pressure for a brief period thereafter, till the crucial lapse at second slip by VVS Laxman. Richardson, so assured and compact till then, drove loosely at an Ajit Agarkar delivery, and Laxman made a mess of a regulation catch.

Richardson celebrated by stroking the next ball down the ground for four, and then, rehearsing the drive, saw the bat fly out of his hands, travel almost 10 yards, and land near a startled umpire Harper. That was the closest Richardson came to losing the plot.

One person who certainly lost the way thereafter was Agarkar. Forced to loiter around the boundary ropes till the 22nd over of the day, he began encouragingly, conceding only six runs from three-and-a-half overs. Then came the dropped chance, and his next 2.3 overs went for 19, as Astle laced some spanking square-drives and pulls.

That also released the pressure which India had built up. Ganguly rung in the bowling changes, bringing himself on for a couple of overs, but that only allowed Astle to free his arms some more.

Till the Zaheer-Harbhajan combination made those late inroads, India were staring at a huge first-innings deficit. Now, they have an opportunity to make a match of it.

S Rajesh is sub editor of Wisden.com in India.

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