Lower order,top class

While India have just three centuries from Sachin Tendulkar,VVS Laxman and Gautam Gambhir,the Kiwis have four hundreds and a double. For India,the players have been consistent but have missed statistical landmarks — quite contrary to how things usually go for them.

Missing the trick

Over the series,three 40s,three 60s,a couple of 70s and an 80 have bucked the usual conversion rate,and the line-up with 106 tons and 195 half-centuries between them seems to have somehow missed a trick on this tour. Even on Friday,all the Indian batsmen fell after playing themselves in.

Despite losing the toss and put in to bat on Friday,the Indian players seemed to be in the zone,triggering heavy expectations in the stands. On a pitch that finally provided the platform for swing’s first appearance of the series,the early hours were uncomfortable. But all the top-four batsmen saw through the difficult period before failing to build on the platform they had laboriously prepared.

When Virender Sehwag is batting on 48,with the total 75 in the first 15 overs,the debate is usually about if the next scoring shot that will take him to 52 or 54. But Iain O’Brien got a delivery to rise unexpectedly and Sehwag edged it to the wicket-keeper. It was then Gambhir’s turn for an encore,and the last Test’s hero,who didn’t look quite as solid as he was in Napier,was trapped lbw by the left-arm seamer James Franklin.

Battle for survival

An hour after lunch,there were anxious moments for Tendulkar and Dravid with local boys O’Brien and Franklin bowling in tandem. As the two stuck to a teasing length,deliveries barely missed the edge and nudges fell just short of the fielders.

But the experienced Indian pair still survived,and played that one special stroke which is usually a precursor to many. Tendulkar swatted a short of good length delivery from Chris Martin from the front foot,stroking it to the cover region for four. And Dravid rocked back on the backfoot to punch a ball from Vettori between extra cover and short mid off.

But just when they had broken the shackles,Tendulkar’s uncertainty outside the off stump led to his dismissal,and Dravid fell after mis-timing a pull. On a tough day for batting,India will still be happy looking at the bigger picture,with the score 375/9. If this effort helps them win the battle again,the well-decorated players wouldn’t mind missing a few extra medals.