India tail ensure third test v NZ in balance

Harbhajan Singh and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni resurrected India's innings after tea with half centuries on the first day of the third test against New Zealand to lead them to 375 for nine at the close of play.

The last pair of Ishant Sharma (15) and Munaf Patel (14) were together for the visitors at the close.

Harbhajan scored 60 while Dhoni made 52 as the pair combined for a 79-run partnership to ensure the first day at the Basin Reserve ended in the balance after India had been reduced to 204 for six shortly into the final session.

The pair came together after Rahul Dravid, who had ground his way to 35, fell just after the tea break following New Zealand's capture of three wickets in the hour before tea to give them the advantage as they sought to level the test series. Dhoni and Harbhajan, however, threw caution to the wind, slashing at anything short with several shots sailing over the slips or just wide of the exasperated New Zealand fielders.

Harbhajan also had a lucky escape when Martin Guptill dropped a difficult chance in the gully when he was on 14.

Dhoni also appeared to be dropped by Daniel Flynn at cover point shortly after he reached 50, though his good fortune did not last long and he was caught in the deep by Iain O'Brien off a Tim Southee bouncer on the next ball. Harbhajan, who brought up his 50 with two fours and a six off successive Daniel Vettori deliveries, continued to hit out until he mistimed a drive off Martin and caught by Vettori at mid-off.

AGGRESSIVE START

Zaheer Khan, who had followed Harbhajan and Dhoni's swashbuckling lead, was dismissed for 33 with four overs remaining in the day's play as India scored 185 runs in 35 overs for the loss of four wickets in the final session.

Earlier, Virender Sehwag (48) and Gautam Gambhir (23) had been dismissed in quick succession before lunch after making an aggressive start, scoring 65 runs in the first hour.

Sehwag had stroked seven boundaries and a six before he nicked an O'Brien delivery through to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum with the score on 73. Gambhir fell two runs later when he was trapped in front by James Franklin.

After lunch Sachin Tendulkar had brought up his 53rd test half century, however, as he did in the second test when he got two starts (49 and 64) but failed to push on.

He was dismissed shortly after when he got an edge to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum off Martin for 62. Vangipurappu Laxman, who scored a century in the second innings of the second test in Napier, was caught at second slip by Tim McIntosh for four off Tim Southee.

Part-time bowler Jesse Ryder then had Yuvraj Singh trapped in front for nine to leave the hosts struggling at 190 for five at tea.

India lead the series 1-0 after winning the first test in Hamilton by 10 wickets, while the second match in Napier ended in a draw. WELLINGTON, Reuters