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Kiwis struggle as India takes charge

Source: Agencies | March 21, 2009, Saturday | Print Edition

INDIA claimed three wickets in the final session to leave New Zealand struggling at 75-3 after Sachin Tendulkar notched his 42nd test century to lead the visitors to a first innings total of 520 on the third day of the first test in Hamilton yesterday.

Tendulkar's 160 helped India to a commanding position in reply to New Zealand's first innings of 279.

At stumps, New Zealand trailed by 166 runs with its middle order exposed and India holding a grip on the first match of a three-test series.

Tendulkar further contributed to India's dominant position when he caught opener Tim McIntosh at slip from the third ball of the innings, before New Zealand had scored.

However, television replays showed the ball, bowled by Zaheer Khan which took the outside edge of McIntosh's bat, may have bounced a fraction of an inch in front of Tendulkar before his hands closed around it.

"I have seen the replays and I have seen my fingers under the ball," Tendulkar said. "Sometimes on camera it looks different. I was pretty much confident otherwise I would not have appealed for it."

Tendulkar left the field for medical attention to a cut hand after taking the catch and it is unlikely he could have known if the ball had carried to him, although McIntosh left the field with him with obvious reluctance.

The dismissal was a blow to New Zealand's chances of saving the match, which became more tenuous when test rookie Martin Guptill was out for 48 and nightwatchman Kyle Mills fell to the last ball before stumps. Daniel Flynn was unbeaten on 24 at the end of play.

But the day revolved around Tendulkar and his superb innings, which brought up his fourth century against New Zealand and extended his lead over Australian captain Ricky Ponting (37) atop the list of test century-makers.

Tendulkar resumed yesterday at 70 not out, having batted for 210 minutes on the second day for his 52nd half century in his 157th test. He reached his century in 260 minutes, from 168 balls with 15 fours and his 150 in 359 minutes when India was 407-5. The innings marked the 18th time in his career Tendulkar has scored 150 or more.

He was finally caught by Ross Taylor at first slip off Iain O'Brien, after occupying the crease for exactly 400 minutes, facing 260 balls and hitting 26 boundaries.

Tendulkar took 20 runs from the first 13 balls he faced yesterday to move into the 90s, then slowed before reaching his century from 168 balls in 260 minutes and with 15 fours. He took a pair of twos and two singles to reach 96, then a three to got to 99, denied his century at that point by a desperate save on the cover boundary by Daniel Vettori.

Tension built as Tendulkar played out a maiden over from Chris Martin to remain poised for 10 minutes on 99. Captain M.S. Dhoni saw out a second maiden before Tendulkar turned the first ball of the next over, bowled by James Franklin, behind square leg for a single. It was Tendulkar's second test century in New Zealand -- his first was in 1998.
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