New Zealand vs India 1st Test Day 3, highlights: Match evenly poised as visitors start well in steep chase

Shikhar Dhawan (49) and Cheteshwar Pujara (22) took India to 87/1 at the close of play on Day 3 in their chase of 407. India have six session across two days to score the remaining 320 runs. Catch highlights here. (Live Scorecard | Live Commentary | Tea Report)

11.18 (IST): It's hard to tell which team goes in with the advantage. While India will be glad they haven't lost too many wickets and that Dhawan has applied himself and done well for his 49, the morning session tomorrow will be a completely different ball game and one that will tilt the game either way. The Kiwis have the fire power in their bowling line-up to rattle the Indians and negate the good start they've made at the moment. Does India have the temperament and the ability to see out the initial trouble and pace their chase well? We will have to wait and find out.

11.04 (IST): The game, as it stands, is evenly poised at the moment. The Kiwis' brilliant effort with the ball was nullified by their inept batting that saw them getting bowled out for 105, setting a target of 407. Despite the loss of Murali Vijay to a controversial call, India have been solid via Dhawan and Pujara. Yet, only half the task is done and the main game happens tomorrow. New Zealand will be a touch disappointed at the way this game is currently poised but McCullum needs to lift the mood in the dressing room for tomorrow morning will be a fresh start and a flurry of wickets early on could swiftly put the game in their favour. As far as India is concerned, this will be yet another test of their temperament and batting skills in overseas conditions.

11.00 (IST): It's stumps! India have finished Day 3 on 87/1 with Dhawan (49) and Pujara (22) in the middle, still need 320 runs to win with six sessions over two days still to may.

10.52 (IST): An attacking field for Dhawan. Two close-in catches on either side and a slip and leg slip for Ish Sodhi. Dhawan survives. India 77/1, need 330 to win.

10.41 (IST): Ish Sodhi is brought into the attack in the final passage of play. India 64/1, need 343 to win.

10.25 (IST): Well timed! Pujara plays a wonderfully timed straight drive to the fence. India 56/1, need 351 more to win.

10.15 (IST): Talking of India's bowling, here's a nice summary of what happened today.

 

India's bowling in this test a bit like turning up late to the bus-stop and then running hard to try and catch it. chase good but too late

- Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 8, 2014

 

10.12 (IST): Bowling change as Corey Anderson comes into the attack. India 46/1, still need 361 runs to win.

09.52 (IST): Replays suggest the ball may have not got his bat afterall. It surely brushed his pad but did it get his bat before that? Snicko is not conclusive and there is nothing on Hot Spot. It doesn't matter anymore though.

09.51 (IST): OUT! Murali Vijay is gone! Caught behind by BJ Watling off Tim Southee. That was bowled down the leg and Vijay tried to run it down to fine leg but couldn't clear Watling behind the stumps. India 36/1.

09.38 (IST): FOUR! Shikhar Dhawan leans in on an over-pitched delivery to collect four runs through covers. That will ease some nerves. India 28/0.

09.31 (IST): A solid start so far for India.

09.19 (IST): Dropped! Shikhar Dhawan has been dropped by Brendon McCullum at covers. India 9/0, need 398 runs to win.

09.17 (IST): FACTOID: The highest successful run-chase in New Zealand 348 by West Indies.

09.15 (IST): Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay begin India's chase of 407.

 

09.02 (IST): New Zealand bowled out! The Kiwis have been bowled out for 105 as Ishant dismisses Wagner. India need 407 runs to win this game with close to seven sessions still to go.

09.00 (IST): Lot of turn and bounce for Ravindra Jadeja there as two stumping chances go begging. The 100 is up for New Zealand.

 

08.55 (IST): Final wicket pair of Trent Boult and Neil Wagner are showing some resistance here. NZ 95/9. They have now gone past their lowest ever Test total against India (94 in 2002/03 at Hamilton)

08.38 (IST): Oh dear! This Kiwi innings has crumbled so quickly. Ishant strikes again! A regulation edge from Ish Sodhi's willow goes straight to Rohit Sharma in the slips. New Zealand 80/9.

08.34 (IST): Another wicket! Ishant Sharma cleans up BJ Watling early in the final session. New Zealand 78/8.

08.18 (IST): Day three has been the most eventful one so far with 150 runs and 10 wickets.

08.12 (IST): Second session wrap:

 

- Taylor and Anderson resumed from 15/4 in the second session.

 

- India continued to do well in the field as Shami came round the wicket and breached the gap between Anderson's bat and pad to dislodge the bails. Half the Kiwi batsmen were back in the hut for 25 runs.

 

- Ross Taylor remained defiant as he scored a couple of fours and tried to rescue New Zealand out of the wreckage.

 

- Just when he was looking to have settled well, he was dismissed by Zaheer Khan as Rahane took a good low catch at gully. New Zealand were 63 for six at this stage.

 

- Ravindra Jadeja, who had been exceptional in the field throughout the day, struck in the final over of the session to send Tim Southee packing. Ish Sodhi walked out and negotiated two very good deliveries to end the over.

 

- New Zealand limped to tea at 78/7, leading India by 379 runs.

08.11 (IST): End of 2nd session! The Kiwis continued to lose wickets and have reached 78/7 at tea.

08.08 (IST): Ravindra Jadeja strikes! You cannot keep him out of action, can you? He gets rid of Tim Southee (14), who flicks the ball straight to Pujara at mid-wicket. NZ 78/7, lead by 379 runs.

07.58 (IST): Tim Southee tonks Zaheer Khan for a six over long on. What a brutal strike. NZ 75/6, lead by 376 runs.

07.55 (IST): With Southee in, the mid-wicket has gone a bit deeper and understandably so. Southee likes to throw his bat around, the Indian bowlers could test him with a few short ones.

07.48 (IST): Ross Taylor is gone! Just when he was pulling the Kiwis out of the wreckage, he departs as Rahane takes a good low catch. Taylor goes for 41. NZ 63/6.

07.32 (IST): Interesting tactic, this. Ishant is coming round the wicket to right-handed BJ Watling with the cover fielder switching over to mid-wicket and leaving the cover region empty. Ishant angles the ball away from the batsman, inviting him to hit him through covers and maybe induce an edge in the process. NZ 55/5.

07.09 (IST): Ravindra Jadeja comes into the attack. NZ 38/5, lead India 339 runs.

06.42 (IST): Shami has a spring in his step, Indians have their tails up in the field and the Kiwis are on the backfoot. What a turnaround this.The only positive for the hosts is the fact that they still have a lead in excess of 300.

06.36 (IST): Shami you beauty! He comes round the wicket and breaches Corey Anderson's defence as the ball travels between bat and pad to clip the bails. Half the New Zealand side is back in the hut. NZ 25/5, lead India 326 runs.

06.19 (IST): FACTOID: The last time before today, Brendon McCullum was out run out in 2009 against Sri Lanka, 143 innings ago.

06.15 (IST): Mohammed Shami has four slips and a gully for left-handed Corey Anderson. NZ 17/4

06.13 (IST): The second session is now underway.

05.43 (IST): 1st session wrap:

- Rohit and Rahane failed to carry on India's fightback and fell early on.

 

- Dhoni's woeful form with the bat in overseas conditions continued. He was dismissed cheaply and the tail was opened up.

 

- The Kiwi pacers used swing to their advantage and rattled India's chances of avoiding follow on.

 

- Zaheer Khan showed some resistance but Neil Wagner sent him packing soon.

 

- With Shami at the opposite end, there was very little Ravindra Jadeja could do with the bat. He scored 30 off 44 balls

 

- Wagner picked up fourth of his innings to bowl out India for 202 and give Kiwis a 301-run lead.

 

- Interestingly, McCullum decided not to enforce follow-on.

 

- Shami was right on the money and trapped Hamish Rutherford in front of the stumps in the first over.

 

- Shami soon picked up his second when Peter Fulton hit one straight to Jadeja at cover to reduce NZ to 9/2.

 

- A spectacular catch from Jadeja sent Williamson back to the hut and gave Zaheer a wicket with just 11 runs on the board and a run out in the final over, again involving Jadeja, dismissed McCullum.

 

- Kiwis went in for lunch at 15/4, leading India by 316 runs.

 

05.35 (IST): What an eventful start to Day 3! 87 runs and 10 wickets already!

05.33 (IST): Oh dear! McCullum is gone! Run out! The two batsmen challenged Jadeja's arm and went for a quick double, but McCullum failed to make his ground, giving India the fourth wicket. That also brought an end to the first session of the day.

05.25 (IST): Double centurion Brendon McCullum walks out to bat. He wouldn't have expected to bat so soon.

05.24 (IST): Another wicket! Zaheer Khan strikes as Jadeja takes a stunner at short mid-wicket to dismiss Kane Williamson. NZ 11/3.

05.12 (IST): Shami strikes again! Peter Fulton is gone, caught by Ravindra Jadeja for five. NZ 9/2.

05.05 (IST): Tricky situation for both sides, this. The Kiwis are certainly on top with a 301-run lead but have already lost their first wicket in the second innings. They need Kane Williamson to see off the early swing to keep India away from picking up wickets in heaps. As for the visitors, a couple of more wickets will boost their confidence which is surely to be down after a listless performance with the bat.

05.01 (IST): Shami strikes early! He traps Hamish Rutherford in front of the stumps. NZ 1/1.

04.58 (IST): No follow-on! The Kiwis have decided to bat again instead of enforcing follow-on after taking a 301-run lead. Interesting decision, this, given that the conditions are overcast and suitable for the Kiwi bowlers. Will have to wait and see if the Indian bowlers can make the most of this situation.

 

 

04.48 (IST): Its all over! Wagner gets the wicket of Mohammed Shami to bring an end to the Indian innings on 202, giving his side a 301-run lead. Still to find out if the follow-on will be induced.

04.39 (IST): This is going from bad to worse for India. Ishant Sharma is also gone! He tries to play over the top and can't clear the in-field. He is gone caught by Boult off Southee. India 189/9.

04.35 (IST): Zaheer is gone! He is caught behind by wicketkeeper BJ Watling. India 188/8.

04.30 (IST): Despite the tight field, Zaheer is freeing his arms and playing his shots here. India 185/7, trail NZ by 318 runs.

04.17 (IST): Three slips, gully, a short point, a short cover and a forward short leg for Zaheer Khan and he still manages to hit one through the off-side for four. India 176/7.

04.11 (IST): Dhoni is gone! Neil Wagner gets the Indian skipper to edge the ball to wicketkeeper BJ Watling who completes a good catch behind the stumps. India 167/7, trail New Zealand by 336 runs.

04.02 (IST): Bowling change as Corey Anderson is brought into the attack. India 158/6, trail by 345 runs.

03.52 (IST): 150 up for India. It comes when Ravindra Jadeja slammed the first four of the day. India 150/6, trail New Zealand by 353 runs.

03.35 (IST): What a splendid start for the hosts here! They have pegged back the visitors with great impact. MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja are the last recognised batting pair here. India 138/6.

03.31 (IST): Rohit is gone! Oh dear...he has played the ball onto his stumps off Trend Boult. What a start for the Kiwis. India 138/6.

03.26 (IST): OUT! Rahane is gone! He fishes outside the off-stump and edges the ball to Ross Taylor at first slip. Tim Southee provides the Kiwis with the first breakthrough. IND 138/5.

03.05 (IST): Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane walk out. Trent Boult starts the proceedings for India. India 130/4.

02.53 (IST): A big day beckons for India. Rohit and Rahane did the hardwork of digging in after a tough passage of play that saw India's top-order torn apart by the Kiwi pacers. The duo of Rohit and Rahane need to carry on the good work if India are to regain momentum in this game. New Zealand, on the other hand, are a couple of wickets away from gaining a massive first innings lead.

02.52 (IST): After 17 overs were lost due to bad light on Day 2, an early start is expected on Day 3. India are 130/4, trailing New Zealand by 373 runs. Rohit Sharma (67 not out) and Ajinkya Rahane (23 not out) are leading India's fightback.

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