New Zealand’s gameplan seemed to be going on track till they came up against the Great Wall of India — Rahul Dravid. The one-drop batsman negated Stephen Fleming’s strategies as India took the honours on the first day of the first Test at Motera here today. Dravid, blasting left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, who started getting ominous turn on the very first day, rescued India from a precarious situation with an unbroken partnership of 115 with VVS Laxman. The Kiwi skipper began the day with his innovative and well-thought out field placings. Inviting opener Virender Sehwag to cut by asking his bowlers to bowl short, he placed a deep point. Sehwag walked into the trap as he slashed at Daryl Tuffey. But the opener was lucky as the ball crossed the ropes after brushing the finger tips of Craig McMillan. Sehwag gave India a blistering start, scoring almost at run-a-ball, with debutant opener Aakash Chopra holding one end up. But Sehwag was unfortunate to be given out leg before to Tuffy to a ball which the replays showed to have missed the leg stump. But the Kiwis, who had seen enough of Aakash in the two preceding warm-up games, trapped him. After Aakash had driven Vettori straight once, the spinner bowled a similar delivery and this time Aakash hit much straighter for Vettori to take a good return catch. Sachin Tendulkar too was enticed by medium-pacer Scott Styris into playing away from his body by a slower one and edged into Nathan Astle’s hands at slip. India were in a dicey situation then, losing two quick wickets soon after lunch, but at 134/3 skipper Saurav Ganguly sent VVS Laxman ahead of himself and the comeback man did not disappoint. It became increasingly tricky for the Kiwis as Dravid started attacking the off-side field and Laxman the on-side field simultaneously. The Kiwis bowled too short and gave too much room to both the batsmen, allowing Dravid to complete his 15th Test century and Laxman his half-century. It was Laxman actually who took on the bowling first, pulling Tuffey to the fine-leg fence and Styris twice to the square-leg fence soon after tea. On the other end, Dravid took Vettori head-on, driving him square and through the covers repeatedly. Fleming surprisingly did not bring on his second spinner Paul Wiseman till the 70th over, but when he did the offie could not make a dent forcing the skipper to claim the new ball after 80 overs. But by now Dravid and Laxman were well settled. Dravid went down on his knees to play a cover drive, and his next boundary, off Tuffey through covers, brought up his century.
