Sehwag's breezy knock puts India in control

Tags: New Zealand tour of India - 2010, India v New Zealand 2nd Test at Hyderabad - Nov 12-16, 2010, India, New Zealand, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag

Published on: Nov 13, 2010

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India finished Day 2 of the Second Test at a solid looking 178 for 2 in just 49 overs and thus bringing down their first innings deficit to 172.

Stumps on Day 2

India finished Day 2 of the Second Test at a solid looking 178 for 2 in just 49 overs and thus bringing down their first innings deficit to 172. New Zealand got pounded by a blistering knock from Sehwag who freed his arms especially after Tea to entertain the massive crowd. Sehwag in no time got to 96 and in an attempt to bring up his century in style got cleaned up by a Vettori arm ball while trying to slog sweep him for a boundary. Sehwag's 96 came in 120 balls with 15 fours and a straight six off Willamson.

The opening stand between Sehwag and Gambhir was worth 160 before it finally got broken in the 41st over. Three balls later, Gambhir got a faint tickle to a rising delivery from Southee down the legside to be caught by the keeper to suddenly lift the sagging spirits of the Kiwis. Gambhir scored 54 from 129 balls with 7 fours. India battled out the remaining 30 minutes of play before Stumps as Dravid (7*) and Tendulkar (11*) preserved their wickets for the next day.

Tea on Day 2

Gautam Gambhir appeared to be returning back to form as he lasted the 18 overs of play before Tea to take India to 62 for 0 along with Virender Sehwag. This was after India had taken the last wicket that of Chris Martin, who got an inside edge off Harbhajan to leg slip. The Kiwis were bowled out for 350 in 117.3 overs. In reply, India had a slow start but once the shine of the new ball was slowly getting lost, the two openers especially Sehwag could play some shots freely.

By Tea on Day 2, India are trailing behind by 288 runs with all their wickets intact. Gambhir is on 28 from 62 balls with 4 fours and Sehwag is on 29 from 46 balls with 4 fours.

Lunch on Day 2

New Zealand had a dramatic collapse on the second day's morning in the Hyderabad Test losing five wickets to slip down to 341 for 9 by lunch. Zaheer Khan started the damage by getting the night watchman Gareth Hopkins and Kane Williamson out lbw in the space of about four overs. Harbhajan Singh complemented Zaheer Khan by taking three wickets which included that of Vettori and Ryder.

The first wicket of the morning went down when Hopkins offered no shot to a Zaheer indipper from round the sticks to get hit on the backpad infront of off. Williamson was lbw to a good length delivery from round the sticks by Zaheer which defeated him for pace off the wicket to trap him infront of middle. After a tiny partnership, New Zealand Captain - Daniel Vettori gave Harbhajan Singh his first wicket of the match after missing a sweep shot to get hit on the back thigh infront of middle.

Harbhajan later on produced a magical off break to force a dominating Jesse Ryder to edge a turning and bouncing delivery to slip. Ryder by then had stroked his way to 70 from 120 balls with 10 fours. Just before lunch, Southee charged down the track to Harbhajan but only to get stranded after getting beaten by a top spinner to leave an easy stumping for MS Dhoni. The Kiwis collected 83 runs in 23 overs in this morning session at the loss of five wickets.

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