Indians bite the dust after Hamilton free for all

India lost yet another series abroad when New Zealand, having ambushed and exposed the much-touted Indian batting line-up on seamer-friendly...

India lost yet another series abroad when New Zealand, having ambushed and exposed the much-touted Indian batting line-up on seamer-friendly wickets, hung on tenaciously to win the second Test match here today.

Having comprehensivley beaten the visitors in three days in the first Test last week, New Zealand wrapped the two-match Test series with a four-wicket win in a rain-hit match which saw only two and half day’s play.

SCOREBOARD

India (Ist Innings): 99
New Zealand (Ist Innings): 94
India (2nd Innings): 154
New Zealand (2nd Innings): M Richardson c Patel b Nehra 28; L Vincent c Patel b Yohannan 9; S Fleming c Zaheer Khan b Nehra 32; C McMillan lbw Nehra 18; N Astle c Patel b Zaheer Khan 14; S Styris c Patel b Harbhajan Singh 17; J Oram not out 26; R Hart not out 11.
Extras (lb4, nb1): 5; Total (for 6 wkts): 160
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-52, 3-89, 4-90, 5-105, 6-136.
Bowling: Zaheer Khan 13-0-56-1, Yohannan 16-5-27-1, Nehra 16.2-4-34-3, Harbhajan Singh 11-0-39-1.

In losing the series 0-2, the Indians maintained their dismal record of not winning a series abroad for 17 long years.

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Defending a modest target of 160 runs, the Indian bowlers did well to reduce New Zealand to 105/5 on the fourth morning today but failed to provide the finishing touches. After captain Stephen Fleming had laid the foundation with an important knock of 32 runs, Jacob Oram put on useful partnerships down the order with Scott Styris and Robbie Hart on a pitch that had improved considerably compared to the other two days of play. In the end, New Zealand went past the target with relative ease to post their first 2-0 series win against India.

The Indians began the day on a high note with Tinu Yohannan providing the breakthrough in the third over of the morning. Opener Lou Vincen edged Yohannan to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel who gleefully accepted the first of his four catches today.

Mark Richardson and Fleming put on 22 runs for the second wicket before Nehra, who was the most impressive bowler today, claimed the first of his three wickets. Richardson edged a Nehra delivery to Patel after scoring 28 runs from nearly two hours of batting. Fleming batted comfortably and seemed to have no problems in negotiating the Indian pacers.

Fleming, whose 32 came off 58 balls with five fours, put his side firmly on course of victory in company of Craig McMillan before getting out to a irresponsible shot that brought the Indian back into the game. Fleming attempted to hook a Nehra delivery when he was not in a position to do so and scooped a simple catch. (PTI)