New Zealand v India

At Auckland, March 7, 8, 9, 11, 12. India won by 272 runs. Winning the toss again, but well aware of Eden Park's reputation for playing slower and slower day by day, Dowling sent India in, but rain heavily reduced the chances of his gamble succeeding.

India lost their first two wickets for 13, but splendid batting by Engineer took the score to 61 in a day of only 15 overs. The last 10 cost 52 runs.

Rain overnight left a large damp patch on the pitch and it became two-paced. Engineer was soon out, but Pataudi played a courageous innings in taking his side to 150 for four before play again ended in bad light.

On the first two days, eight hours, twenty minutes were lost, and the delay was fatal to New Zealand.

India, 209 for five at lunch on the third day, were all out for 252 but New Zealand's anxiety to score quickly led to rash strokes and dismissals. Sinclair, back in the team after illness, showed good form and Congdon batted usefully, but New Zealand were put out for a dismal 140.

India's lead of 112 was steadily improved by Surti and Borde, who scored 126 for the fifth wicket. Surti, missed twice at 99, left while still short of his first Test century. Borde played beautifully on a pitch which gave the pace bowlers no help, but which took spin readily Pataudi declared after an hour's batting on the fifth morning, to leave New Zealand a target of 374 in four hours, fifty minutes.

There were never any prospect of the runs being made, the Indian spinners turning the ball abruptly. The only resistance came from Dowling and Burgess, who were together for eighty minutes. Dowling, batting two and a quarter hours for 37, gave one of his finest displays, but the game ended fifteen minutes after tea. This was Nadkarni's last Test appearance.