India v New Zealand, Fourth Test

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

IND: *Gavaskar, Merchant, Umrigar, Hazare, Azharuddin, Borde, +Engineer, Kapil Dev, Srinath, Venkataraghavan, Bedi.

NZL: Turner, Richardson, Congdon, *Reid, Donnelly, Burgess, +Parore, Hadlee, Taylor, Bracewell, Boock.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: S Kishen & Satyaji Rao

The fourth Test in Kolkata saw India remain unchanged following the 'bore-draw' in Kanpur, whilst New Zealand welcomed back both John Bracewell and Stephen Boock in a bid to bolster their spin bowling department. Adam Parore also resumed his role behind the stumps for the Kiwis, Smith, Motz and Howarth the men missing out.

The tourists had to win this match to retain any chance of taking the series, and although Gavaskar won the toss and elected to bat, a slightly patchy looking strip and some decent cloud cover gave them hope of restricting the Indians. A roughly honours-even first day saw India reach the close on 238-4, and the fact that they could only extend this total to 328 before being bowled out certainly gave New Zealand hope.

India's innings was centred around Hazare's 94, and his 102 run partnership with Gavaskar for the third wicket was the pair's third century stand of the series. New Zealand bowled with commendable application though, and Hazare was the only man to pass 50 as the innings fell away on the second morning. Hadlee eventually trapped him lbw on the way to his third four-for of the series, one of five lbw decisions awarded in the innings, but injury to Taylor and two dropped catches from Parore blotted the Kiwis' copy book somewhat, as did an irritating last wicket stand of 32 between Srinath (35) and Bedi (4*).

Nonetheless, New Zealand were still in the match, and some valuable runs from their own tail gave them a vital first innings lead come stumps on day three. The ever-reliable Bevan Congdon led the way at the top of the order with a watchful 84, but it was not until the tourists lost their sixth wicket that the innings really got going. From a laboured total of 181-6 the last four wickets more than doubled the score, adding a further 190 runs before the innings finally closed on 371. Parore and Hadlee both recorded their first fifties of the series as they added a national record 98 for the seventh wicket, and a pair of attacking innings from Taylor (39) and Bracewell (40*) pushed New Zealand into a 43 run lead.

Bishen Bedi had bowled superbly throughout the Black Caps' innings though, claiming 6-118 from 46 overs of wonderfully controlled slow left-arm bowling, and with Engineer claiming four victims in a welcome return to form behind the timbers, India's deficit appeared manageable. However, the fit-again Bruce Taylor removed both openers on the fourth morning before the scores reached parity, and with John Reid inducing an edge behind from the in-form Umrigar, India were 46-3 and in distinct trouble. An obdurate 41 from Hazare led a recovery of sorts, but when Boock removed both him and Borde in quick succession, India were 166-5 and their lead of 123 left them looking vulnerable.

India's plight should have been even worse, but Parore had fumbled yet another chance earlier in proceedings, missing Azharuddin on 17 off the bowling of Bracewell, and this error was to prove extraordinarily costly for New Zealand. Azharuddin duly completed his 50, and in partnership with Engineer he then set about taking the game away from the Kiwis. 130 runs were added for the sixth wicket, each one of them a nail in the tourists' coffin, and Azharuddin's final score of 126 was an innings of immeasurably greater value than his undefeated 173 in Kanpur. It was batting of the highest order under immense pressure, and Engineer provided excellent support with his first fifty since his remarkable 300 against the Australians. A hard hit fifty from Kapil Dev on the fifth morning simply added insult to injury, and Gavaskar's lunchtime declaration left New Zealand with the unlikely target of 317 in a minimum of 59 overs.

The Black Caps tried to force the pace early on, but they threw away early wickets in the quest for quick runs, and on a wearing pitch it was soon evident that the final two sessions of play were going to be a battle for survival rather than for victory. Congdon gave Venkat a return catch off the leading edge for 29, and with the ball really starting to turn both Venkat and Bedi were able to bowl with any number of fielders surrounding the batsmen. Umpires Kishen and Rao were severely tested by a succession of appeals from India's spin twins, and by tea New Zealand were a precarious looking 96-5, with thoughts of victory a distant memory.

Richardson was the last recognised batsmen still at the crease, and once Venkat snared him for 33, Bedi ran through the tail to pick up his second five wicket haul of the match, with Gavaskar claiming three catches at slip. New Zealand had been dismissed for 121 with an hour's play remaining, and India's 195 run victory had handed them their first ever ATG series win at home. There were understandable scenes of jubilation all around Eden Gardens at this point, and both Bedi - who had become the first Indian bowler to reach 100 ATG wickets - and Azharuddin were feted as heroes for their part in the victory. In reality though it had been a match that New Zealand could - and should - have won, and as well as Bedi bowled and Azharuddin batted they really had only themselves to blame as yet another Test match slipped through their fingers.

Scores
IND 1st Inns 328 (Hazare 94, Gavaskar 49, Azharuddin 46; Hadlee 4-73)
NZL 1st Inns 371 (Congdon 84, Parore 62, Hadlee 57, Bracewell 40*; Bedi 6-118)
IND 2nd Inns 359-9 dec. (Azharuddin 126, Engineer 73, Kapil Dev 51, Hazare 41; Boock 4-83)
NZL 2nd Inns 121 (Bedi 5-33)

INDIA WON BY 195 RUNS

Man of the Match: BS Bedi