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 didn'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 Closed' plaque.Working at day is never a part of a nightwatchman'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 day'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.Kumble's next over saw the back of the other overnight batsman - Stead. Craig McMillan's replacement was like the injured player's replica. Similar to the many ``flatter to deceive'' 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 Ganguly's full length dive forward caught it inches above the ground at short cover.Another noteworthy feature of Stead's batting was his overtly obnoxious shuffle towards the off-stump even before the ball left the bowler'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 Spearman's quick retreat added more power to the adrenaline pump. The right-hander was lucky to survive the 51 balls he faced. Venkatesh Prasad'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 won'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 captain's advice to his flock.Their 70-run effort started the tourists' 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.Watching the two pacers - Srinath and Prasad - 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.SCOREBOARDIndia (1st innings) 583/7 declared.New Zealand (1st innings)Gary Stead c Ganguly b Kumble 17 (61b, 79m, 3x4)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, 2x4)Stephen Fleming c MSK Prasad b Srinath 48 (134b, 190m, 8x4)Nathan Astle batting 68 (205b, 287m, 6x4)Adam Parore lbw Kumble 11 (42b, 54m, 2x4)Chris Cairns batting 18 (83b, 106m, 1x4).Extras (8b, 9lb, 10nb) 27.Total (for six wickets in 101 overs, 437 minutes)211.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).BowlingJavagal Srinath 22-7-42-1 (5nb)Venkatesh Prasad 20-7-39-1 (1nb)Anil Kumble 33-15-55-4 (4-nb)Harbhajan Singh 24-7-56-0Saurav Ganguly 2-1-2-0.
