After 41 years…

India New Zealand Test Series, 2009

India created history on 7th april, 2009 by winning the bilateral test series 1-0 against New Zealand. This series victory further gave India’s ambitions of becoming one of the top ranked test side a much needed fillip. The victory and the trophy did not come easy to India, they fought hard, clinical and professional. India found heroes all through the series to make it a deserving winner at the end. Here is a glimpse of  India’s enroute into tryst with the history. In the last tour to New Zealand, the bowlers ruled the roost. Scores and targets within 200 and matches completed within three-four days were highlights of the tour.This time around it were good test match wickets which had something for both the bowlers and batsmen.

1st Test

India started the tour by showing the glimpses of its greatness with its youngest and oldest members of the team leading the way. Ishant Sharma(4-73) rattled the New Zealand batting along with Munaf patel(3-60) and gave India the edge on the first day of the Test Series. It was then left to the senior master “Sachin” a name  written all over the world except New Zealand to correct this aberration.  He scored his first test century in New Zealand and now has centuries in all test playing nations. Tendulkars(160) century along with some handy support by Gambhir(72), Dravid(66), Dhoni(47) and Zaheer Khan(51) gave India a big lead.The New Zealand second innings was again reduced to ashes, this time by the turbanator craftsman “Harbhajan Singh” aka “Bhajji”. India had to chase a down a modest target of 39, which they did with 10 wickets remaining to acquire a 1-0 lead.

2nd Test

New Zealand was not goning to surrender its home record without a fight. One would expect them to hit back hard at the opposition which they did in the 2nd test. With Dhoni’s absence due to injury, Sehwag lead the Indian Team. In their first innings New Zealand piled up so many runs, thanx to Taylor(151), Ryder(201) and McCullam(115), that they did not have to bat for the second time. New Zealand was in the drivers seat when they dismissed India in their first innings for 305. Made to follow on, India was always a better team when pushed to the wall. It took the heroic efforts of flexible  Gambhir(137) and very special Laxman(124) to save the match for India. India found a second wall in Gambhir atleast in the eyes of stand-in skipper Sehwag. The test ended in a spirited draw, reinstating the depth and class of this famed  Indian batting line-up.

3rd Test

New Zealand desperate to level the series and India heading to create history locked horns for the deciding third test. New Zealand began well by strikinng rich and fast. India was reduced to 204/6 in no time, but the Indian tail wagged to frustate New Zealand and get a respectable score of 379. After doing the rescue act with the bat it was a commanding act with the ball by Zaheer Khan. He claimed 5 wickets for 65, its not the numbers that mattered but the sheer way with which he got those wickets was a delight. Each of them was a masterpiece and zaheer had done justice to the team as a strike bowler. India again a better batting side in second innings scored huge and scored fast. Gambhir scored his sixth century to propel India to a state from where it cannot lose the test. New Zealand refused to surrender and fought hard on the final day before rain listened to their prayers and stopped play. It was a tame draw to the well-fought Test Series. Meanwhile, Dravid broke Mark Waughs record for highest number of catches in tests.