Tendulkar takes India to verge of NZ total

India were poised to set a substantial first innings lead over New Zealand when they ended the second day of the first Test here Thursday one run behind and with six wickets in hand.

Steady batting by India, restricted by New Zealand's defensive approach and their own reluctance to take risks, led them to 278 for four at the close when bad light ended play six overs early.

With Sachin Tendulkar unbeaten on 70 and Yuvraj Singh on eight, and strong batting to follow, the way was clear for India to dominate the Test.

New Zealand after scoring a meek 279 on a placid wicket managed just four wickets during the day.

Verinder Sehwag was run out early, Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid both reached 50 but failed to make their centuries and VVS Laxman fell on the second delivery with the new ball. Chris Martin, dropped for the West Indies series early this year, celebrated his recall as the most effective of the bowlers, taking the wickets of Gambhir and Laxman to produce figures of two for 53 off 20 overs. There was no urgency about the Indian innings, in part because of the defensive fields set by Daniel Vettori in an attempt to force the visitors into taking the initiative if they wanted to keep the board ticking over.

AFP