India v New Zealand

At Wankhede Stadium, Bombay, November 10, 11, 13, 14, 15. India won by 162 runs. The limitations of the New Zealand batting were ruthlessly exploited by the Indian spinners.

In the first innings, New Zealand failed to build on a good start. They were 220 for three, but collapsed for 298. In the second, they were routed in less than five hours, for only 141.

New Zealand's bowling, handicapped to some extent no doubt by unseasonable heat and humidity, held out little threat and it was only because India's middle order also batted indifferently that they were not confronted by a mammoth score.

Although the pitch yielded an increasing amount of turn, it never became so treacherous as New Zealand's second innings débâcle would suggest. Perhaps New Zealand might have got away with a draw had they batted first. This was the fourth toss they had lost in as many Tests.

Gavaskar, who hit his ninth Test century, with Gaekwad and Amarnath, gave the Indian innings a sound base, although they made their runs at a rather leisurely rate. Admittedly, New Zealand were not very speedy with their overs.

In an effort to hurry things along then, India lost their grip. From 218 for three, they slid to 252 for eight. Kirmani, at number eight, revived them with a plucky 88, Bedi (36) assisting him in a partnership of 105 and Chandrasekhar held out while another 42 were added for the last wicket.

The New Zealand innings followed the same course initially. Thanks to Turner's 65 in four and a quarter hours and Parker's 104, also a careful, dogged innings, New Zealand reached 220 for three. Then their batting began to wither away and their last six wickets fell for only 64 runs. Defiance was restricted to Collinge's 26.

In India's second innings, Gavaskar got out early, at 24, looking for quick runs. After Amarnath left for 63, India had to tread more carefully and Viswanath was almost two hours scoring 39.

The clock was going against an Indian victory, but Patel, who made 82, played an innings of startling brilliance and India declared half an hour after the start on the last day, leading by 303 runs, and with just under five hours' play left.

Turner fell to the new ball. At 25, John Parker was second out, completely beaten in the air and off the pitch by Bedi, who went on to become the main wicket-taker. New Zealand looked totally demoralised and lost ground so rapidly that they slumped to 67 for seven, leaving the Indians two and a half hours to capture the three remaining wickets.

The match nearly slipped out of the Indians' grip when Lees, who went on to make the top score of 42, was dropped at slip by Viswanath from a top-edged pull. He and Collinge then became entrenched and stayed together till thirteen minutes before the last hour was signalled.

The Indian spinners operated with five or six men round the bat and two batsmen caught off bat and pad, Murray Parker and Roberts, expressed dissatisfaction at being given out. There was controversy also about the catch that Madan Lal held on the square-leg boundary to dismiss Collinge, who seemed to believe that it was made beyond the rope. The umpire sought the fielder's confirmation before giving the decision.