Wisden
Third Test Match

New Zealand v India

At Wellington, February 29, March 1, 2, 4, 5. India won by eight wickets. Dowling won the toss and batted, but it was certainly not a toss to have won. On a grassy pitch the formerly anaemic India seam bowling proved most penetrative, and New Zealand did well to reach 147 for four on the first day, shortened by rain and bad light.

Burgess played soundly for three and a half hours, but New Zealand collapsed on the second morning, when Prasanna took five for 19 from sixty-two deliveries. By close of play India were firmly on top, at 200 for five, and they reached a total of 327, mainly through the diligence of Wadekar, who scored his first Test century in six and a quarter hours, hitting twelve 4's.

Between innings, Dowling had the pitch treated with a huge seven-ton roller, and as soon as the Indian spinners began the ball behaved strangely, sometimes jumping head high, often turning viciously.

Of the total of 199, a partnership between Burgess and Congdon yielded 86 in New Zealand's best batting of the series. Both batsmen used their feet well, and hit straight. At the end of the third day New Zealand were 143 for four and still had a chance, but on the fourth morning Nadkarni and Prasanna went through the lower order, with only a breezy catches. India hit off the 59 runs required with light-hearted batting.

© John Wisden & Co