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New Zealand vs India, 1st Test at Hamilton, , Mar 18 2009 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
1st Test, Hamilton, March 18 - 21, 2009, India tour of New Zealand
279 & 279
(T:39) 520 & 39/0

India won by 10 wickets

Player Of The Match
160
sachin-tendulkar
New
IND 2nd Innings
Full commentary

This is India's first Test win in New Zealand since the Auckland Test of 1976. They take a 1-0 lead in the series and have lived up to their billing at least in this game. The match headed in their direction at lunch on the opening day with NZ at 61 for 6. New Zealand mounted a fightback but their bowlers failed to back the efforts of Vettori and Ryder. India piled on the half-centuries, Tendulkar scored an exquisite 160 and there was no looking back. The adjudicators for the Man of the Match will have a tough choice between Tendulkar and Harbhajan, whose 6 for 63 happens to be his best Test figures away from home. MS Dhoni maintains his slick record as a Test captain. Stay with us for the presentation.

Vettori: "India outplayed us. The Indian top order thrives on boundaries and we fed them too many. We've seen teams bounce back from 0-1 and this will test the side."

Dhoni: "Fantastic effort by the bowlers. Our bowlers rely a lot on swing and we bowled a lot fuller compared to the NZ bowlers. Sachin was at his best when they bowled badly."

Tendulkar is the Man of the Match: "Once the new ball was taken I was middling the ball a lot better. I took some time to get adjusted to the wicket. The stomach is fine and the finger is sore but I should be fine."

We can expect some changes in the NZ lineup in Napier, I expect Jeetan Patel to walk in and maybe a spot for Tim Southee as well. That's up to Glenn Turner and co.

Thanks for your company and the mails. Do join us for the Napier Test on March 26. Remember it is a 10.30 am start (21.30 GMT) so set your alarms/reminders half an hour early. On behalf of Raghav and Sanjay, this is Kanishkaa signing off. Take care!

5.2
4
Mills to Gambhir, FOUR runs

and India's 33-year wait ends! Mills slides down the leg side and Gambhir moves across just a little and works it on its way to fine leg off the face of the bat

5.1
2
Mills to Gambhir, 2 runs

Mills drops it short and Gambhir stays there, swivels and pulls but doesn't get the desired elevation, he gets two anyway

Gambhir back on strike

end of over 54 runs
IND: 33/0CRR: 6.60 
Rahul Dravid8 (14b 2x4)
Gautam Gambhir24 (16b 5x4)
Chris Martin 3-0-17-0
Kyle Mills 2-0-15-0
4.6
Martin to Dravid, no run

sudden rush of blood as he lashes out at a wide delivery and meets thin air

4.5
Martin to Dravid, no run

Dravid's in no daring hurry, he lunges forward and defends solidly

4.4
Martin to Dravid, no run

lands outside off and he shoulders arms, the ball holds its line before reaching the keeper

4.3
Martin to Dravid, no run

gets nicely behind the line to a full ball and defends solidly

4.2
Martin to Dravid, no run

prods forward and the late away movement just beats the outside edge

4.1
4
Martin to Dravid, FOUR runs

lovely shot, he waits for it at the crease, opens the face of the bat and angles it wide of gully, he used the pace of the ball on that occasion and timed it well

end of over 410 runs
IND: 29/0CRR: 7.25 
Gautam Gambhir24 (16b 5x4)
Rahul Dravid4 (8b 1x4)
Kyle Mills 2-0-15-0
Chris Martin 2-0-13-0
3.6
Mills to Gambhir, no run

swivels and attempts another expansive pull and he fails to make proper contact, he swears at himself

3.5
2
Mills to Gambhir, 2 runs

hops at the crease to a short ball and fends it away behind square on the on side

3.4
Mills to Gambhir, no run

commits too early to the pull and the ball ends up hitting him flush on the shoulder

3.3
4
Mills to Gambhir, FOUR runs

too wide outside the offstump and he bends his knee slightly, maintains his balance and crashes it through the arc between backward point and cover

3.2
Mills to Gambhir, no run

cuts hard outside off but Guptill is agile at backward point as he tumbles and saves it

3.1
4
Mills to Gambhir, FOUR runs

take that! He moves across his stumps and plays a powerful pull, he fetches it from outside off and clubs it high over midwicket, he wants to finish this off now

end of over 35 runs
IND: 19/0CRR: 6.33 
Rahul Dravid4 (8b 1x4)
Gautam Gambhir14 (10b 3x4)
Chris Martin 2-0-13-0
Kyle Mills 1-0-5-0
2.6
Martin to Dravid, no run

attempts an offdrive off a full ball but he turns the face of the bat and mistimes it to mid-off

2.5
Martin to Dravid, no run

tries to get him to drive with a full ball wide of the offstump but Dravid safely lets it go to the keeper

2.4
Martin to Dravid, no run

gives him room outside off and he slashes it hard but finds Guptill at point

2.3
Martin to Dravid, no run

lands it outside off and he opens the face of the bat and steers it down to point

O'Brien is down with a side strain

2.2
1
Martin to Gambhir, 1 run

shuffles and clips it with soft hands in front of mid-on and sets off quickly

2.1
4
Martin to Gambhir, FOUR runs

makes room to a full delivery, clears the front leg and ploughs it hard down the ground and beats mid-off