India v New Zealand

At Ahmedabad, October 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 2003. Drawn. Toss: India. Test debuts: L. Balaji, A. Chopra.

Some peculiar tactics in the field from New Zealand gave India the initiative from the start of this Test but, under extreme pressure, the New Zealanders inched to safety. Even though they had no genuinely fast bowlers, they worked on the theory that Indian batsmen struggle against the bouncing ball. The approach was not exactly a success. India controlled the match on the back of a high-class 222 from Dravid, scored off 387 balls and punctuated with 28 fours and two sixes, which continued his rich vein of form against New Zealand. Ganguly chipped in with an unbeaten, even hundred before declaring to leave New Zealand needing 301 to avoid the follow-on.

They were already in dire straits on the second evening, having lost three top batsmen for 17 to the lively Zaheer Khan. But, on the third morning, Astle led a fightback with an accomplished 103, aided by a gritty half-century from McMillan. It was an innings of some courage: after recovering from knee surgery, Astle had had scant preparation. He went on to score the first hundred by a New Zealander in India since Glenn Turner at Kanpur in 1976-77.

Despite Astle's heroics, New Zealand were in real danger of following on, particularly when Oram poked to slip to give Kumble his 350th wicket, in his 77th Test. At that stage 74 were needed with three wickets in hand; thankfully for New Zealand, one of those was Vettori. With his new-found batting skills on show, he effected the first stage of New Zealand's jailbreak. His crucial 60, in baking temperatures and against two of the best spinners in the world, made Vettori only the fourth New Zealander - after Richard Hadlee, Chris Cairns and John Bracewell - to score 1,000 runs and take 100 wickets in Tests.

With a lead of 160, India were not exactly urgent about their second-innings work, leading to questions about Ganguly's strategy too. He eventually called time after India took 45 overs to extend their lead to 369. Happily for New Zealand, their two most vulnerable batsmen picked the perfect day to deliver, and they hung on to save the Test and keep the series alive. McMillan and Vincent, both recalled to the Test arena after being dumped for the series against Sri Lanka, repaid the selectors' faith with matchsaving half-centuries.

New Zealand never seriously threatened the target but earned credit for their neversay- die approach in temperatures topping 40°C, ending at 272 for six after 107 overs of rugged defiance. McMillan, who again demonstrated his ability against spin, built steadily on the foundation set by Vincent, whose innings ended after lunch for 67 when he dragged on an attempted cut off Kumble. But New Zealand were able to survive the next two sessions, thanks to another fighting effort from Astle, who by now was unwell, and some more baffling captaincy from Ganguly, who employed run-saving fields and all but emptied the slip cordon at a time when India desperately needed a breakthrough.

Man of the Match: R. Dravid.