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India batted on for just 18 overs this morning, finally declaring their innings closed at 434 for 7, setting New Zealand an improbable target of 617 to level the series at one apiece. New Zealand in their reply lost four wickets before an unbeaten partnership of 83 between Ross Taylor and James Franklin took them through to the end of play.

MS Dhoni picked up his 16th test match half-century and Yuvraj Singh scored 40 as India chased quick runs in an effort to get their already mammoth lead above 600.

Yuvraj fell to Chris Martin, caught in the slips again, and Harbhajan singh joined him back in the pavilion a couple of deliviries later for naught, as the Indian batsman threw their bats at practically everything today.

Zaheer Khan joined Dhoni in the middle and hit a couple of lusty blows while Dhoni edged closer to his fifty. The much awaited declaration finally came, and Dhoni set New Zealand the arduous task of batting five and a half sessions to avoid a 2-0 series defeat.

New Zealand got off to a slow start in their second innings, and the opening pair of Guptill and McIntosh were more than happy to let as many balls as possible go.

The first breakthrough for India came on the last delivery of the 11th over, Zaheer Khan getting one to shape away from the left-handed McIntosh, the youngster continued his miserable run in the series, edging the ball through to Rahul Dravid in the slips. He was out for just 4 from 32 deliveries.

Catch no. 182 for India's Mr. Dependable, breaking Mark Waugh's world record of 181 for Australia. I've always felt Dravid was a much better bad-pad fielder than in the slips, he picked up a lion share of his early catches standing up close to the spinners. Over the last few seasons he has been a bit patchy in the slips, probably not in the same league as Waugh, who used to catch them in his sleep. Nevertheless, a great effort from a tremendous servant for Indian cricket.

New Zealand went through at lunch at 37-1, with Guptill unbeaten on 26 from 34 balls including 3 fours and a big six over square leg off Zaheer Khan.

Danny Flynn, also on a wretched run of form, was the next to go. Zaheer Khan got one to nip back at the left-hander, the ball took the inside edge; brushed the thigh pad and crashed into the stumps. Flynn was gone for 10, though he did occupy 40 minutes at the crease. Khan took his match tally to 7 wickets, and the Kiwis slumped to 54 for 2.

Zaheer came out of the attack after a marathon 15 over spell either side of lunch, but the Kiwis stayed under the kosh as Harbhajan Singh picked up from where he left off in the first innings. The talented off-spinner was clearly enjoying the windy conditions at the Basin Reserve and was getting the ball to drift; and rip off a deteriorating pitch.

He got into the act straight away picking up Martin Guptill for 49, one shy of a well deserved half-century. Harbhajan bowling round-the-wicket got one to pitch on a good length and turn sharply, catching the batsman plumb in front of his stumps.

Harbhajan then picked up a second wicket in the over, the prized one of Napier centurion Jesse Ryder for a duck, edging catch no. 183 through to Rahul Dravid. With New Zealand now struggling at 84 for 4, the match looked like it could get over in a hurry.

Earlier in the innings Ross Taylor had survived a close bat-pad appeal with the third umpire declaring the decision too close to call. Taylor decided to throw caution to the wind and started going after the bowling. James Franklin joined Taylor in the middle and the pair saw New Zealand through to tea at 136 for 4.

The Indian performance in the short post-tea session was far from inspiring. The team came out and started with Munaf Patel and Virender Sehwag in the attack. Though Franklin survived a close leg before shout from Sehwag, the pair never really threatened much as the Indians let the game meander and seemed happy to go away with a 1-0 win rather than driving their advantage home.

Ross Taylor took advantage of the gaps in the field and the mediocre bowling on offer to pick up another test half-century before bad light ended play early again today. (Read about day 3)

With heavy showers forecast for tomorrow, it seems increasingly unlikely that India will have enough time to force a win in this game. The way things looked in the final session of the match today, it seems quite likely that they will enjoy having an extra rest day before they make a short trip home, before embarking on another 45-day tour; this time to South Africa for the IPL.

Mini Scorecard:
India 1st innings 379 all out
Sachin 62                                             Martin 4-98
Harbhajan 60                                        O'Brien 2-89

New Zealand 1st innings 197 all out
Taylor 42                                               Zaheer 5-65
McIntosh 32                                           Harbhajan 3-43

India 2nd innings 434/7
Gambhir 167                                        Martin 3-70
Laxman 61                                           O'Brien 2-100

New Zealand 167/4
Taylor 69*                                           Harbhajan 2-36
Guptill 49                                            Zaheer 2-50

File Photograph Copyright: Ian Vecchi

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