INDIA WINS THE TEST SERIES IN NEWZEALAND AFTER 41 LONG YEARS

India wins a Test series in NewZealand after 41 years. India wins this 3-match Test series 1-0 after the final Test match ending in a draw due to rain and bad light.

SCORECARD: India vs NewZealand, 3^rd Test, Wellington, 2009

Lower order strikes for India

India was struggling for 200 odd runs with the loss of 6 wickets in the first innings after the dismissal of Rahul Dravid. But Dhoni and Harbhajan took their chances and made runs at a faster pace. Literally all the tail-enders joined the run feast and made sizeable contributions.

Zaheer routes Kiwis

Zaheer Khan came up with a brilliant spell to dismiss Kiwis to a paltry total. He was ably supported by Bhajji. India had a huge first innings lead of 182 runs. Kiwis were on back foot immediately after their cheap dismissal.

Gambhir notches up another second-innings century

Gambhir continued his rich vein of batting form. In the last Test match he played one of the best match-saving knock. In this Test match he played a knock which had put his team into a very comfortable lead. Rahul, Laxman, Yuvraj and Dhoni also notched up good scores in the second innings.

Rain plays spoilsport

Bad light and rain helped Kiwis escape with a draw. In Kiwi second innings, Ross Taylor came up with a fine century and put obstacles to India’s victory. There was huge criticism on Dhoni for the late declaration. On hindsight, the late declaration had cost India’s victory in this Test match. But that decision may not be entirely of Dhoni’s, the seniors like Sachin, Rahul, Laxman and Sehwag would have been consulted. I feel Indian think thank had not completely anticipated this kind of extreme weather disruptions.

Rahul Dravid - India’s Finest Slip Fielder

During the Kiwis second innings, Rahul Dravid took a nice sharp catch from the blade of McIntosh off Zaheer Khan’s bowling to break Mark Waugh’s record for most Test catches.