Harbhajan throttles India forward

Tail-ender Harbhajan Singh hits entertaining 85 for India to punish New Zealand on third day of second test.

HYDERABAD: Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh frustrated New Zealand with the bat once again, smashing 85 runs off 82 balls on the third day of the second Test. The feisty tail-ender hammered five sixes and seven fours to add 69 runs for the unfinished last wicket with Shanthakumaran Sreesanth taking India to 436 for nine at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.

Singh’s onslaught followed his maiden Test century that helped India salvage a draw in the first Test against the tourists in Ahmedabad.

New Zealand bowlers, led by Daniel Vettori, had reduced India to 367 for nine but Singh’s defiant knock ensured India finished the day with a handy 86-run lead.

“It was a fantastic innings by Singh,” said India’s Rahul Dravid. “He played an attacking knock which has put us slightly ahead in the game.”

Singh cut, pulled and drove with belligerence to enthrall a 30,000-strong weekend crowd. His efforts helped India pile up 113 runs in the final session despite losing four wickets.

The tourists, who scored a first-innings 350, had started strongly after tea, removing the dangerous Venkatsai Laxman for 75 and captain MS Dhoni in successive overs.

Laxman, playing the first Test at his home ground in a 14-year career, capped his second successive half-century of the series with a flicked four to the fine-leg boundary off Southee.

He also added 52 runs for the fifth wicket with Suresh Raina, who was caught by Martin Guptill off Vettori.

“It was disappointing to lose it all in the last hour after doing so well throughout the day,” said New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor. “It was difficult to stop Singh.

“None of our plans worked against him and he hit us all over the park.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2010.