India consolidate early advantage

Make hay while the sun shines.

The adage may be age-old but still holds sway. On Sunday, India chose to abide by it.

With a sizeable first innings lead (182) in hand, and the opposition's bowling arsenal looking seemingly innocuous, it was up to India to call the shots and bat New Zealand out of the third Test at Wellington.

That is precisely what the visitors did. India batted the whole of the third day, losing only four wickets during the period, and hadn't yet declared their innings.

A huge partnership (Gambhir-Dravid, 170) early on, and another one (Gambhir-Laxman, 106) in the middle, laid the foundation for a considerably large Indian total (349 for five) in the second essay.

New Zealand's target (532 at present) is something that has never been chased down in the history of Test cricket. It can be increased further provided India does not declare at their overnight score.

In case the hosts want to chase history and break records, there's ample time for them though, about two days, to be precise.

Morning session: (119 runs, 30 overs, no wickets)

Resuming at 51 for one, Southee appealed for a leg before decision to the third ball of the day, but Dravid was never in danger of losing his wicket to that appeal.

Two balls later, it seemed a more serious appeal. Dravid edged the ball to slips and umpire Simon Taufel decided to refer it to the third umpire.

However, Dravid emerged unscathed again, television replays showing the ball had hit the ground first.

Those were the only two appeals (read exciting moments) for the home side in the pre-lunch session. The rest of the session was an exercise in futility.

Dravid and Gambhir had little trouble thereafter in forging a steady stand and consolidating India's advantage.  

The fifty partnership came off 19 overs. And when Dravid cut Vettori for his sixth boundary, it brought about the 100-run partnership, the second fifty runs coming off just 81 balls.

The stand further improved Dravid's record of being involved in 100-plus partnerships to 76, an enviable statistic, without doubt.

Gambhir, unbeaten on 28 overnight, went on to complete his half century. And as he kept adding runs to his tally, he became more and more aggressive, the six of O'Brien just being a case to validate the point.

Dravid, who was on nine at stumps on day two, also combined caution with aggression to good effect to complete his 57th Test fifty with successive boundaries off Vettori.

The duo negotiated the New Zealand bowling with ease and, more importantly, scored at a healthy rate. The 150-run partnership came soon enough, 12 overs to be precise.

New Zealand's bowling attack looked innocuous and the Indian batsmen had apt answers to whatever questions their bowlers asked.

Post-lunch session: (99 runs, 31 overs, 2 wickets)

The second session was better from New Zealand's point of view vis-à-vis the first.

Gambhir's century came in a manner in which he has been batting throughout the series. Two successive boundaries off Tim Southee in the second over after lunch took the southpaw past the milestone. It was his sixth Test century, his fifth in the last six months and his second in the series after his match-saving 137 at Napier.

However, in the very next over India suffered their first shock of the day. Brendon McCullum displayed impeccable judgment and good reflexes simultaneously to account for Rahul Dravid (60).

As Dravid tried to paddle sweep Vettori, McCullum anticipated to perfection, moved quickly enough and took the chance he had himself created.

Dravid left shaking his head in disbelief, his sensible innings having been cut short by use of some sense.

The Wall, however, had done the job he was required to do. His 60 took his aggregate for the series to 314 (@ 62.80).

The dismissal also brought to an end a 170-run second-wicket partnership, and in walked Sachin Tendulkar.

The Master Blaster announced his intentions by hoisting Vettori over long off for the maximum. However, the New Zealand captain had revenge in his subsequent over, tossing one up and forcing Tendulkar to play it. The latter managed a nick and Ross Taylor made no mistake at slips.

Tendulkar went for nine and India was in a bit of a wobble at 208 for three.

However, Laxman's arrival coupled with Gambhir's growing confidence ensured more runs for India; the pair added 61 runs without being separated.

Post-tea session: (80 runs, 20.5overs, 2 wickets)

Resuming at 269 for three, India had fortune on their side in the very first over when James Franklin spurned a difficult chance of Jesse Ryder at short midwicket and Laxman survived to live another day.

It took India just seven overs to raise their 300.

However, Laxman continued to live dangerously. He pushed one Vettori delivery to Ryder, who failed to latch on to it but almost parried it to the bowler. He was fortunate again; this time he was on 49. A little later, he reached his half century with a boundary off Franklin. It was his 39th fifty overall, his fourth against New Zealand and second in the ongoing series -- after a superlative 76 at Napier.

That particular boundary also brought up the 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Soon after, the second new ball did the trick for the hosts, Iain O'Brien trapping Gautam Gambhir up front.

Gambhir scored a masterclass 167, the innings interspersed with 16 hits to the fence and two huge ones (both off Vettori) over it.

The southpaw from Delhi finished the highest run scorer in the series with 445 (@ 89.00). India 314 for four.

As Yuvraj Singh arrived at the crease, India were just a few runs away from a 500-run lead. An outside edge from Laxman's blade (off O'Brien) went to the third man boundary and pushed the Indian lead beyond 500.

The ball was in the air for some time but went past Ryder at gully and Laxman was fortunate yet again; not for long though.

Two balls later, O'Brien got one viciously coming in and Laxman's defences lay shattered and had the batsmen in a bit of a shock.

Laxman made 61. For those interested in statistics, he was only the third Indian batsman to be cleaned up in the series, after Dravid and Yuvraj (both at Hamilton).

In came captain M S Dhoni, and in the absence of any pressure whatsoever, he did what he does best -- attack. And Yuvraj followed suit.

The result -- a flurry of boundaries in succession.