Match peters out into dull draw

SAS NAGAR, OCT 14: In contrast to the first day's drama and excitement, the last day of the Test was excruciatingly boring. The Indian bo...

SAS NAGAR, OCT 14: In contrast to the first day’s drama and excitement, the last day of the Test was excruciatingly boring. The Indian bowlers failed to make an impact as the defensive Kiwis held out to draw the first Test.

The New Zealand aim was clear: defend, defend and defend. Runs did not interest them. India thus did not have to fear a counter-attack.

Sunil Joshi found his line and length and turned a few deliveries alarmingly. He had Horne edging a turning ball

to a diving Ganguly in the slips. Five overs and 13 runs later, Ganguly was at it again — the ball coming off the gloves of a sweeping Craig Spearman. Indian victory hopes receded from here onwards as Fleming and Nathan Astle blunted the spin attack.

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The wicket was mystery. On the first morning it seamed. On the second and the third days, there was a bit of turn and variable bounce for the spinners. Yesterday, one thought, the danger of batting on the last day would stem from the low bounce. But predictions went haywire as the wicket played truer than on the previous four days.

Fleming and Astle lasted for 40 overs without getting into trouble. Tendulkar had little faith in Joshi, whose first spell read 11-7-8-2. He was later given four brief spells — three, one, five and three overs — after big intervals. The bowler may have well lost his confidence. It was Joshi who looked like taking wickets and as the day progressed and India started losing their grip on the match, they did not have a bowler who could pose a major threat to the batsmen. The exception was Javagal Srinath, who bowled quick but without much luck.

Anil Kumble was unable to do much with the zip missing in his bowling. Low on confidence, Kumble needs wickets to regain his self belief. He got three wickets in the closing stages to infuse some artificial excitement into the match, but it came too late in the day for India.

When he ended Fleming’s match-saving vigil at the crease, Kumble’s Test tally stood at 243, taking him ahead of Bhagwat Chandrasekhar. Only two Indians — Bishan Singh Bedi and Kapil Dev — are now ahead of him.

SCOREBOARD

India (1st innings): 83

New Zealand (1st innings): 215

India (2nd innings): 505 For 3 decl.

New Zealand (2nd innings)

Matt Horne c Ganguly b Joshi 33 (2×4, 224m, 153b)

Mathew Bell lbw Srinath 7 (45m, 29b)

Craig Spearman c Ganguly b Joshi 35 (2×4, 207m, 1162b)

Stephen Fleming c Ganguly b Kumble 73 (7×4, 325m, 250b)

Nathan Astle c MSK Prasad b Srinath 34 (3×4, 152m, 123b)

Brian McMillan c Ramesh b Kumble 18 (3×4, 78m, 56b)

Adam Parore c Gandhi b Kumble 7 (1×4, 50m, 37b)