It took almost a decade for the second team from New Zealand to make
an appearance in this country. On their way to England for the first
half of the tour in 1965, the visitors stopped by to play a series of
four Tests. But with each of the matches restricted to four days,
chances of a result were pretty remote especially on Indian wickets.
However a dream performance by 'new boy' S.Venkatraghavan ensured that
India won the final Test at New Delhi and with it the series.
The team, led by John Reid, then in his last year of international
cricket, was a bit stronger than the previous side led by Harry Cave.
The batting was as strong but the bowling was stronger. Besides the
captain, Bert Sutcliffe was also around, again like Reid on his last
international series. But New Zealand also had fine batsmen in Dowling
and Congdon. The bowling in the hands of Motz, Collinge, Yuile and
Pollard was certainly more balanced than the New Zealand attack of
1955-56. And then on the tour, the immense talent of BR Taylor was
unearthed, giving the batting and bowling an additional edge.
But the Indians at home have always been a formidable outfit. And by
the mid sixties, under the dynamic leadership of MAK Pataudi, they had
achieved results, notably a memorable two wicket victory over
Australia at Bombay which enabled them to draw level in the three
match series held a few months before the New Zealanders arrived. The
batting was strong, what with Jaisimha, Sardesai, Pataudi, Hanumant,
Borde, Engineer, Manjrekar, Durrani and Surti in the line up. And the
bowling looked capable enough with Surti, Durrani, Nadkarni and
Chandrasekhar in the ranks.
The first Test at Madras ended in a dull draw, but there were two
notable events. The first was the eighth wicket partnership of 143
runs between Nadkarni and Engineer which was an Indian record for all
Tests. The second was an unbeaten 102 by Manjrekar in what was his
final Test innings.
The second Test at Calcutta also ended in a draw but the proceedings
were certainly more interesting. Taylor made it memorable by becoming
the first player in Test history to score a century and take five
wickets in an innings on debut. Sutcliffe scored 151 not out and added
a record 163 runs for the seventh wicket with Taylor. For India,
Pataudi scored an unforgettable 153. With New Zealand losing wickets
quickly in the second innings, there was some excitement on the final
day.
There was much more excitement in the third Test at Bombay. Dowling
made a hundred as New Zealand made 297 in their first innings. Desai
had his best Test haul of six for 56. Then the New Zealanders seamers
got to work and bundled out India for 88 runs with Taylor again taking
five wickets. As India commenced their second innings, it was still
only late into the second day and they faced the stark reality of
perhaps an innings defeat. No one however could have bargained for
what followed. Sardesai got an unbeaten 200, Borde got a hundred,
Hanumant Singh chipped in with an unbeaten 75 and India were able to
declare their second innings closed midway through the fourth
afternoon at 463 for five. New Zealand were left with about 2-1/2
hours to get 255 for victory. But by now the hunter had become the
hunted and New Zealand struggled to avoid defeat. In an amazing
turnabout, they were 45 for 7 before ending at 80 for eight with the
ususual spectacle of the Indian spinners bowling with all eleven
fieldsmen circling the belegeaured batsmen.
India finally clinched the series at New Delhi. Venkatraghavan, who
had made his debut in the first Test, by this time had improved by
leaps and bounds. He took eight for 72 to bowl out New Zealand for 262
on the second morning. The Indians now needed to score quickly and
Sardesai and Pataudi rose to the occasion with centuries while Borde
(82) and Hanumant Singh (87) chipped in with hectic knocks. Pataudi
was able to declare at 465 for eight late on the third evening. New
Zealand fought hard to save defeat but Venkatraghavan and
Chandrasekhar, each with four wickets bowled out the visitors for 272
on the fourth evening. India had to get 70 for victory in about an
hour and they got the runs, amidst much excitment, in the penultimate
over. Venkatraghavan, with match figures of 12 for 152, was very much
the star of the victory and it was obvious that a high calibre off
spinner had been discovered.