VVS Laxman, Harbhajan script miraculous draw!

Tags: New Zealand tour of India - 2010, India v New Zealand 1st Test at Ahmedabad - Nov 4-8, 2010, India, New Zealand, Harbhajan Singh, Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman

Published on: Nov 09, 2010

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It was a miraculous draw pulled out by India against the unsung Kiwis in the first Test at Ahmedabad.

It was a miraculous draw pulled out by India against the unsung Kiwis in the first Test at Ahmedabad. Though the match didn't go to the wire, there was enough tension in the air which lasted almost the entire first session. India won this crucial first session comprehensively as the overnight pair of VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh with some luck saw through 30 overs without getting separated. They added 82 runs most importantly which took the lead to 192 and it was difficult for India to lose from this situation knowing that they were going to be less than two session for the Kiwis to get the runs.

It was only sometime in the afternoon that the Kiwis picked up their first wicket of the day when VVS Laxman was wrongly adjudged lbw by Umpire Steve Davis with the right hander inside edging an arm ball from Vettori onto his pads in the 90th over. Laxman was denied a well deserving century, but his 91 from 253 balls (with 9 fours) was worth in gold. When Laxman walked off the park, India was comfortably out of jail with a safe enough lead of 256. The very next ball that he got out, Zaheer was as well wrongly given out lbw by the same Umpire off the same bowler and it was an inside edge too onto the pad! Yet India was safely out of any trouble because of the good work in the morning session. Though Laxman missed out in getting three figures, Harbhajan Singh registered his maiden Test Century which would result in him getting the Man of the Match later on.

India was still fighting it out by Tea at 255 for 8 with Harbhajan Singh on 115 before he fell trying to paddle sweep a high full toss from Ross Taylor in the air to short fine leg to present the part timer his maiden Test wicket. Harbhajan Singh batted out gutsily for 193 balls striking 11 fours and three sixes. Incredibly Ross Taylor added up one more Test wicket when he had last man Sreesanth nicking behind a drive to wrap up the Indian innings who were bowled out for 266 in 102.4 overs.

It was a massive target of 295 to get in hardly any overs left in the final session and the Kiwis settled for a draw at 22 for 1 in 10 overs. Poor Tim McIntosh bagged a pair as he got out lbw to a Zaheer Khan indipper for his second duck of the match.

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