New Zealand fights on in Ahmedabad Test
India 1st Innings 487 New Zealand 1st Innings 417/6 day 4
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 as they went past the 400 run mark to close in on India’s first innings total of 487 runs.
Resuming at the overnight score of 331/5 the Black Caps maintained the pressure on the hosts adding 86 runs in the opening session of play, in what is expected to be a decisive day in the match.
The Black Caps were indebted to a marvelous debut hundred by Kane Willamson, who took the fight to the Indians in a brilliant display of gritty batting.
The right hander had a resolute partnership of 194 runs for the fifth wicket with Jessie Ryder on day three of the match and carried on his good work scoring his first ever 100 in the longest format of the game.
He reached the coveted three figures of his 244th ball striking 9 fours in the process. He was the mainstay for his team and combined superbly with Ryder to bring the Black Caps in the hunt after they were reduced to 137/4 in the morning session
on day three.
His was the only wicket to fall in the opening session of day he scored a memorable 131 runs off 299 balls hitting a total of 10 boundaries in his vigil. His innings ended when he was dismissed by left arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772 taking the
catch.
He became the third victim of Ojha, who has been the best Indian bowler on a wicket that has not suited the spinners as much as expected.
Willamson fell on the brink of lunch interval after occupying the crease for almost the length of a full day’s play.
His captain Daniel Vettori gave him good company in the opening session adding 86 runs with the rookie. He is unbeaten on 41 runs scored off 89 balls. Vettori has kept his attacking tendencies in check and has grafted his was through scoring only 1 four
and 1 six in his innings thus far.
The post lunch session is crucial for both teams as the Indians would aim to run through the remainder of the New Zealand batting line-up and hope that they gain a slender lead over the tourists. On the other hand the Black Caps would hope to bat throughout
the session and get past the Indian first innings score.
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