Harbhajan makes maiden ton

Harbhajan Singh realised every bowler's dream of making a Test hundred to steer India to safety on the final day of the first Test. Chris Martin and New Zealand couldn't replicate the venom with which they had bowled on Sunday and their chances of victory vanished with the 163-run association between Harbhajan and Laxman.

Unlike the cool-and-collected Laxman, Harbhajan was less secure. He nearly committed hara-kiri in the third over of the day with an ill-judged call for a single after punching the ball to mid-off. Daniel Vettori's throw missed the stumps with Harbhajan yards out. Harbhajan also offered half-chances to slip and forward short leg but despite the shakiness, he never put away his natural attacking strokes. He outscored Laxman with maverick batting: sweeping Vettori powerfully in the air against the turn, a ferocious down-the-line forehand off Martin, and - riskiest of all - a reverse-paddle off Jeetan Patel.

By lunch, India's lead had ballooned to 192, and much of the interest in the second session centred on whether the two batsmen could make their hundreds. Both carried on as they had in the morning: Laxman made unflustered progress with Harbhajan pulling off some enterprising strokes.

After Laxman and Zaheer Khan were dismissed, there was still the matter of Harbhajan's hundred. He had reached his half-century with a Laxman-like flick and he brought up three figures with a Sehwag-like six, carving the ball over extra cover to move from 95 to 101. Cue generous applause from the dressing-room, and Harbhajan celebrated with a message to his close friend Sachin Tendulkar - imitating the master's signature crouch.