Kiwis keep eager India at bay

AHMEDABAD, OCT 31: Despite a good start, India failed to capitalise on the momentum as an overtly defensive New Zealand finished the thir...

AHMEDABAD, OCT 31: Despite a good start, India failed to capitalise on the momentum as an overtly defensive New Zealand finished the third day of the third Test at 211 for six. Taking on from an overnight 18 for one, the visitors looked set for another day full of trouble as Anil Kumble showed both overnight batsmen, Gary Stead and nightwatchman Daniel Vettori, the way out. But skipper Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle blocked off any hint of threat. Block they did, and how. The near-capacity Motera Stadium witnessed exactly why Kerry Packer didn8217;t test his coloured pajamas on this version of the game. Full marks to the Indians who looked like a bunch of children enjoying a weekend at Disneyland. Eager and excited, they seemed ready to relive the Saturday when they looked ready to take on the mightiest. The Kiwis had other things in minds, and all they showed the home boys was a Sunday Closed8217; plaque.

Working at day is never a part of a nightwatchman8217;s job profile. Already over-burdened in his specialisedwork area, Vettori was in no mood for additional working hours. A resurgent Kumble punched out Vettori in the day8217;s fifth over. Bowling over the wicket, a top-spinner took a faint edge and substitute Vijay Bharadwaj, at silly mid-on, did the needful.

Kumble8217;s next over saw the back of the other overnight batsman 8212; Stead. Craig McMillan8217;s replacement was like the injured player8217;s replica. Similar to the many 8220;flatter to deceive8221; innings, McMillan had played in this series before he got injured, Stead also blew it all just when he appeared to get a hang of things. Trying to turn Kumble to mid-wicket, he misjudged the flight. The leading edge ensured that the ball missed the stumps, but Saurav Ganguly8217;s full length dive forward caught it inches above the ground at short cover.

Another noteworthy feature of Stead8217;s batting was his overtly obnoxious shuffle towards the off-stump even before the ball left the bowler8217;s hand. Reminiscent of the late Raman Lamba, the moment was so exaggerated that even a man atmid-off could have seen his exposed leg-stump.

With two quick wickets, Motera almost smelt deja vu. Craig Spearman8217;s quick retreat added more power to the adrenaline pump. The right-hander was lucky to survive the 51 balls he faced. Venkatesh Prasad8217;s away-going special had him nick some way short of Sadgoppan Ramesh at second slip. Just a short break. The next over: a better ball, a sounder nick and brilliant catch to his left by Ramesh.

The dismissal got together the two men who won8217;t need a referendum to be called the pillars of New Zealand batting. Skipper Fleming and Astle foresaw long hours at wicket ahead and they seemed to be ready for the job. Dropping the anchor to save the ship was the captain8217;s advice to his flock.

Their 70-run effort started the tourists8217; recovery. But after lunch, Javagal Srinath had Fleming caught-behind at 48. Astle, however, was unmoved.Wicket-keeper Adam Parore did not last long as Kumble had him trapped leg-before. But Astle and Chris Cairns stayed put to see theKiwis through.

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Watching the two pacers 8212; Srinath and Prasad 8212; slog all day on the lifeless track was heart-breaking. They tried to bang in bouncers, zoom in yorkers and bowled their heart out; but the rewards were few and far between. A poser: If things settle down in our neighbouring country, the thing on the top of our priority should the transfer of the reverse swing technology from across the border.

SCOREBOARD

India 1st innings 583/7 declared.

New Zealand 1st innings

Gary Stead c Ganguly b Kumble 17 61b, 79m, 3215;4
Mathew Horne c Dravid b Kumble 2 24b, 29m
Daniel Vettori c Bharadwaj sub b Kumble 3 16b, 37m
Craig Spearman c Ramesh b Prasad 17 51b, 68m, 2215;4
Stephen Fleming c MSK Prasad b Srinath 48 134b, 190m, 8215;4
Nathan Astle batting 68 205b, 287m, 6215;4
Adam Parore lbw Kumble 11 42b, 54m, 2215;4
Chris Cairns batting 18 83b, 106m, 1215;4.
Extras 8b, 9lb, 10nb 27.
Total for six wickets in 101 overs, 437 minutes211.
Fall of wicket: 1-13 Horne, 8.1 overs, 2-29 Vettori, 16.1 overs, 3-33 Stead, 18.3 overs, 4-65 Spearman, 32.5 overs, 6-166 Parore, 73.5 overs.
Bowling
Javagal Srinath 22-7-42-1 5nb
Venkatesh Prasad 20-7-39-1 1nb
Anil Kumble 33-15-55-4 4-nb
Harbhajan Singh 24-7-56-0
Saurav Ganguly 2-1-2-0.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More