3rd Test: Visitors reduced to 147/7 after rain delays start

NAGPUR: In his pitch report, Sunil Gavaskar described the Jamtha wicket as a sleeping beauty. Yet, to their collective horror, the New Zealand batsmen eventually realised that the track was much like a charming seductress. On a day when the sun played hide-and-seek, the Indian bowlers, led by S Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma made a huge statement of intent. And having batted with surprising authority in the first two Tests, for once, the New Zealand batting was a spectacular failure on Day One of the third and final Test against India on Saturday.
For starters, however, everything seemed to be going New Zealand’s way. First the wet outfield delayed the start by 140 minutes and then Daniel Vettori called correctly to win an important toss. However, the Indian bowlers struck with a vengeance to push New Zealand on the backfoot reducing them to 148 for 7 at stumps. Only Jesse Ryder (59,5x4) stood among the ruins with a fighting half-century along with the No. 8 batsman Brendon McCullum, who was in more discomfort with his strained back rather than the Indian bowling.
McCullum, who scored a double hundred opening the innings at Hyderabad, hurt his back slipping on the damp outfield while training as Vettori was walking out for the toss.
To be sure, it was the mercurial pacer Sreesanth who gave India a perfect start scalping both the openers in an impressive opening spell of 6-2-12-2. Mahendra Singh Dhoni then replaced Sreesanth with Ishant Sharma from the pavilion end and the tall Delhi bowler responded magnificently striking two telling blows.
Pragyan Ojha led the charge for the spinners; he was both mean and crafty making shortwork of Kane Wiliamson and Gereth Hopkins. And finally, Harbhajan Singh made his presence felt in a big way when he dismissed top scorer Jessie Ryder, striking in his 11th over. Ryder played an unimpressive cut to Suresh Raina, who caught the ball inches off the ground at short cover.
Only a few hundred spectators saw Sreesanth set things on fire at the start of the New Zealand innings. He first dismissed Martin Guptil with a gem which landed on a perfect length and moved away. The batsman had to play at it and the resultant edge was gleefully accepted by captain Dhoni.
In his next over, Sreesanth castled Tim McIntosh with the one that swung in enough to find daylight between his bat and pad. Ishant then took over from Sreesanth. He caught Ross Taylor plumb in front and Daniel Vettori dragged a short one onto his stumps. Ryder displayed the patience that was hopelessly missing from the other batsmen. McCullum too took a leaf out of Ryder’s book in making 30 not out off 80 balls.
Poor drainage rules out first session
The Vidarbha Cricket Association may be proud of their new stadium at Jamtha but drainage seems to be a big problem. There was no play in first session of the third Test due to wet outfield which was shocking because there were no rains overnight. The ground staff had to work very hard in the morning to dry the outfield. It was a sorry sight to see electric fans and halogens being used in the modern age.