Sehwag and Dravid clobber New Zealand on Day 1 of Ahmedabad Test
Day one of the Test series between India and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 went as per expectations as the hosts piled on the runs on a batting paradise in Ahmedabad as the tourists realized very early that the series is going to be a big slog for their inexperienced line-up.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gautam-Gambhir-c58623, who came into the Test team after missing the second Test against
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 earlier in the season.
Gambhir who has stiff competition with the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Murali-Vijay-c78035, who scored a hundred in the Test that Gambhir missed, was undone for 21-runs and he is set to be disappointed with his meagre return on a perfect track at the Sardar Patel stadium.His runs
came off 41 balls and included 3 hits to the fence.
The Black Caps had hoped to make further inroads in the Indian line-up yet it was not to be as Gambhir’s replacement, the Wall of India, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rahul-c83321 Dravid, held one end as Sehwag in his typical belligerent approach kept scoring at break neck speed.
The two complimented each other’s approach brilliantly scoring runs at every possible option besides rotating strike to run Black Caps and their captain Daniel Vettori ragged.
Sehwag completed his half century in the first session of the play and then motored towards his 22nd Test hundred. His shot making was as stunning as ever and the crowd that had turned out in big numbers at the venue thoroughly enjoyed their time
during his knock.
He reached his ton of only 111 balls striking as many as 17 fours in his first 100 runs.
The century was his fifth of an incredible year. Soon after reaching the mark he started cramping up and needed a runner to guide him through the last part of his innings.
Despite his predicament he refused to bow down and kept smashing the bowling to all parts of the ground. He reached his 150 within no time and was all set to reach another double hundred when he was undone by a straighter one by Vettori that stayed a shade
low and crashed into his stumps.
He scored 173 runs off 194 balls striking 24 fours and 1 six in his knock. The right hander shared a second wicket stand of 237 runs with Dravid.
Dravid stayed on course for his 100. The elegant right hander reached the landmark off 215 balls. Yet his innings was cut short soon afterwards when he dragged a ball from seamer Chris Martin with his score on 104.Dravid faced 227 balls and struck 14 delightful
fours in his innings.
The day was closed out by the duo of Sachin Tendulkar and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772, who took the hosts to a position of great comfort by the close of play.
The Indians are placed at 329/3 and are all set for a monumental total tomorrow. They would aim to bat once in the match and rely on their spinners and opening bowler Zaheer Khan to get through 20 New Zealand wickets.
Their opponents are on the mat very early in the match and would need a herculean effort from their bowlers on day two of the match if they are to stage a comeback in the Test match.
Once New Zealand get to bat the batsmen would have to graft a long innings and ensure that they play out the spinners with composure.
However, it is going to be a gigantic task considering the lack of experience in their line-up.
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