It had been 33 years since India won a Test match in New Zealand but the
statistic was rendered obsolete after a six-wicket haul from Harbhajan
Singh inspired a comprehensive 10-wicket victory at Seddon Park. Daniel
Flynn led the defiance with 67 and Brendon McCullum hustled 84 as India
eased off after tea. But though the innings defeat was avoided after a
76-run partnership with Iain O'Brien, India needed just 32 balls to knock
off the 39 runs needed.
South Africa won a first Test series in Australia with a nine-wicket
triumph at the MCG. South Africa has become the first team in 16 years to beat the
Aussies on home soil.
This time Bhajji shone up with his bat rather than his spinning fingers. When India was in need to score, it was Harbhajan Singh who rose to rescue India after the top order Indian batsmen struggled against Johnson.
Harbhajan smashed 54 as India, replying to Australia's first innings
total of 430, recovered from 155-5 to 313-8 by stumps on the third day
at the Chinnaswamy stadium.
Zaheer Khan chipped in with an unbeaten 35 during an eighth-wicket
stand of 80 with Harbhajan as the last three Indian wickets plundered
158 runs after the famed top order had been decimated by Johnson
It will interesting to watch the series, Australia having an upper hand. Australia has won their last two Test series, one again India, where as India has lost both the encounters in the recent past - against Australia and Sri Lanka. But you never know, Indians are always tigers on their own grounds.
India 329 (Sehwag 201*, Gambhir 56, Mendis 6-117) and 269 (Gambhir 74, Sehwag 50, Mendis 4-92) beat Sri Lanka
292 (Jayawardene 86, Sangakkara 68, Warnapura 66, Harbhajan 6-102) and
136 (Samaraweera 67*, Ishant 3-20, Harbhajan 4-51) by 170 runs
India fought back in the second Test again Sri Lanka to even the series at 1-1. After loosing the first Test shamelessly India bounced back in a big way. This should boost visitors confidence over hosts for the next Test.
After setting Sri Lanka a target of 307, Harbhajan Singh (4/51) and
Ishant Sharma (3/20) bowled out the home team for a paltry 136 on a
dramatic fourth day's play which saw as many as 16 wickets fall. Harbhajan Singh claimed 10 wickets, as India
defeated Sri Lanka convincingly by 170 runs to win the second Test on
Day 4 to level the three-Test series 1-1.
It was a remarkable comeback by the Indians who were beaten
comprehensively by an innings and 239 runs in the first Test in
Colombo. The teams now return to Colombo for the series decider
beginning on August 8.
It had been 33 years since India won a Test match in New Zealand but the
statistic was rendered obsolete after a six-wicket haul from Harbhajan
Singh inspired a comprehensive 10-wicket victory at Seddon Park. Daniel
Flynn led the defiance with 67 and Brendon McCullum hustled 84 as India
eased off after tea. But though the innings defeat was avoided after a
76-run partnership with Iain O'Brien, India needed just 32 balls to knock
off the 39 runs needed.
