Zaheer Figures will Whitewash Kiwi's in Test

India's Fast Bowler Zaheer Khan is a Hero of the 3rd test between the India & Kiwi's Who Fall Five Wicket in an Innings. Zaheer's first spell read 8-2-18-2, and after a brief break, which included the lunch interval, he was back to wreck more havoc. Zaheer returned figures of 5-65.




Zaheer was the architect of the New Zealand collapse, but Harbhajan bowled superbly and deserved his success. Bowling at a slower pace than he normally does, he got the ball to drift, grip, and spin in an unchanged spell that began just before lunch and didn't end till the New Zealand innings was wrapped up. James Franklin, who continues to bat above Brendon McCullum for reasons unknown, was his second victim, sweeping tamely to square leg, while McCullum, who was left to play with the tail for much of his innings, edged a cut to MS Dhoni, who marked his return to the team with six catches, a record for an Indian wicketkeeper. That the loudest cheers from New Zealand supporters probably came when Chris Martin - who had scored two runs in his 11 previous Test innings - lofted Harbhajan straight down the ground for four summed up the kind of day they had. The Indians, who are eyeing their 100th Test win, won't be complaining.

Riding on Zaheer's 5-wicket haul, India wiped off Kiwi batting order for 197 and batted in their 2nd innings to score 51 at the loss of 1 wicket on Day 2 of the final Test. New Zealand pacer Chris Martin got the breakthrough for his side to send back Virender Sehwag (12).

India dominated Day 2 to sweep all 10 Kiwi wickets that led to their 2nd innings batting in the last hour of the game. Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag opened the innings to extend their lead of 182 runs. But Sehwag's reckless display with the bat, yet again, saw him going back to pavilion in the second over. He lobbed at first slip Taylor off Martin, who made no mistake in getting the ferocious player out of the 22 yards.

Rahul Dravid (9*) joined Gambhir (28*), who looked observant of the windy weather. Both batted till the end to score 51/1 by the end of the day. They will resume batting on Day 3.