New Zealand tour of India: India consolidate on day three of 2nd Test
NZ 1st Inns 350 - http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 237/3 Lunch day 3
India has consolidated its position on day three of the second Test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hyderabad-c792.
The morning session on day three belonged to the hosts, who lost just one wicket in the session and gradually moved closer to the first innings total of the visitors.
Resuming at the overnight score of 178/2, the pair of Sachin Tendulkar and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rahul-c83321 Dravid were eying big scores on a batting friendly wicket which was expected to behave at its best on day three of the Test.
A large number of fans had camped in at the latest Test venue in India, and they all wanted a big score from their hero Tendulkar; however, for once the little master, who is having a brilliant run in the longest format, failed.
He was snapped by an elated Daniel Vettori with Ross http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 completing a catch; the right-hander, who has scored the highest number of runs in Test and ODI format, was sent packing for 13 runs that came off 28 balls and included
1 four.
After his demise, local hero http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772 arrived at the crease amid cheers of the crowd; he started cautiously and went on to anchor the innings with the Wall of India Rahul Dravid also concentrating hard at the other end.
Tendulkar fell with the score at 184, which meant that the hosts had lost three wickets for the addition of 24 runs, a run that started with the dismissal of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gautam-Gambhir-c58623 in the final stages of day 2.
Laxman and Dravid slowly repaired the damage inflicted by the New Zealand bowlers and occupied the crease for a long time, accumulating runs at a leisurely pace.
They brought the fifty of their partnership just before lunch; the interval was taken with Dravid and Laxman batting at 33 and 31 runs respectively.
Dravid’s 33 runs came off 110 balls and included 3 fours; on the other hand, the elegant Laxman was slightly more attacking, scoring his runs off 88 balls, striking 4 fours in the process.
The Indians aimed to score more runs in the second session of play and closed out the New Zealand score and built their own lead – ending the day at 436/9 - that is bound to come in handy when the wicket starts breaking up on day
four and five.
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