India v New Zealand, Second Test

Punjab C.A. Stadium, Chandigarh, Mohali

IND: *Gavaskar, Sidhu, Umrigar, Hazare, Azharuddin, Borde, +Engineer, Kapil Dev, Srinath, Venkataraghavan, Bedi.
NZL: Turner, Richardson, Congdon, MD Crowe, *Reid, Burgess, +Parore, Hadlee, Taylor, Motz, HJ Howarth.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: VK Ramaswamy & PD Reporter

New Zealand arrived in Mohali in buoyant mood after their great escape in the first Test, but they were struck a cruel blow before a ball was even bowled when both Stephen Boock (shoulder) and John Bracewell (side) were forced to withdraw, leaving Hedley Howarth as the lone spinner on a track that was expected to favour the slow men later in the game.

John Reid managed to win his second toss in succession, but on a flat, dry surface the Kiwis were bowled out within a day by an unchanged Indian attack, although on this occasion it was seam rather than spin that did the damage. The tourists were actually a commanding 172-2 midway through the afternoon session, but a devastating spell with the second new ball from Kapil Dev after tea caused the last six wickets to tumble for 34 runs with New Zealand only managing to total 279 after they had promised so much more. Congdon top-scored with 87 before Umrigar's direct hit from cover ran him out following a poor call from Reid, then Kapil Dev's best ever ATG figures of 5-53 simply scythed through the tail.

India now set about capitalising on an excellent first day's work, and just as in Ahmedabad it was Gavaskar and Hazare that piled on the misery for the Black caps. Gavaskar and Umrigar (who was dropped on 9 by Crowe) took India's reply past 100 after the early dismissal of Sidhu, then Hazare hooked up with his skipper to the tune of 191 runs, a partnership that, in fluency if not in sheer weight of scoring, more than matched their liaison in the first Test. Hazare was eventually out on 99, skying a catch to Reid off Hadlee just one run short of a deserved hundred, but Gavaskar went on to reach his second century in succession off just 167 balls, and became the first Indian to pass 3000 ATG runs as his innings swelled past 150, just as it always does when he reaches three figures (the lowest of Gavaskar's seven ATG hundreds is 156*).

Gavaskar eventually edged Taylor behind for 169, and from a score that read 296-2 when Hazare was dismissed, the innings fell away somewhat to 411 all out, with the impeccable Richard Hadlee returning the excellent figures of 4-72 from 33.4 overs. New Zealand began their second innings just after lunch on day three, and just as on the first day they got off to an excellent start. Their 132 run deficit was wiped out for the loss of only two wickets, Bevan Congdon adding a fluent 73 to go with his first innings 87 and passing 1000 runs in just his 13th ATG Test. Turner and a subdued Crowe took the Kiwis to stumps on day 3 at 174-2, with Turner going on to complete just his second ATG century (the other was also against India) early on the fourth morning.

At 246-2, New Zealand led by 112 and found themselves in an unexpectedly strong position, but just as on the first day the innings fell away again, to spin this time, and the tourists were all out for 342 by tea. Turner eventually made 125 in five and a half hours, and John Reid enlivened proceedings with a belligerent 57 which included a withering assault on Bedi, who departed for three sixes in the space of two memorable (not for Bedi!) overs. India thus needed 211 to win in four sessions, but when one considered the fact that they had never successfully chased more than 85 to win an ATG Test, the result was not a forgone conclusion.

Indeed, by the close on day four, India had been reduced to a nervy 54-3 with both Gavaskar and Hazare back in the pavilion, and when Hadlee claimed his third wicket by uprooting Azharuddin's off stump for 8 early on the final morning, the hosts were teetering at 74-4 and it was very much 'game on.' Umrigar and Borde were able to construct a vital partnership for the fifth wicket though, and with the total on 104, Umrigar was crucially dropped by Hadlee in Howarth's first over. Umrigar was on 43* at the time, and New Zealand paid dearly for Hadlee's mistake as India's number three stroked his way to what was to prove a man-of-the-match winning performance.

Umrigar and Borde added 96 precious runs before Hadlee made Borde victim number four, but by then it was too late for New Zealand. Umrigar had reached a wonderful hundred by the time the winning runs were hit, and to make matters worse for the tourists both Reid and Hadlee were already in the dressing room at this stage, nursing injuries picked up in the field that make them both doubtful starters in Kanpur. India had played some good cricket on the way to their victory, but New Zealand had paid the price for both their first day collapse and their lack of a quality spinning option on the final day (Howarth's match figures were 0-130 off 35 overs), and it will be an uphill struggle for them to get back into the series now.

Scores
NZL 1st Inns 279 (Congdon 87, Reid 47, Crowe 46; Kapil Dev 5-53)
IND 1st Inns 411 (Gavaskar 169, Hazare 99, Umrigar 41; Hadlee 4-72)
NZL 2nd Inns 342 (Turner 125, Congdon 73, Reid 57, Crowe 41)
IND 2nd Inns 211-6 (Umrigar 106*, Borde 40; Hadlee 4-49)

INDIA WON BY 4 WICKETS

Man of the Match: PR Umrigar