Indian batting topples in second innings

The mighty Indian batting line up collapsed on the fourth day of the first Test match between India and New Zealand to stand at 82 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the second innings at stumps here on Sunday.

V.V.S. Laxman (34*) and Harbhajan Singh (12 *) at the crease and will face the spirited Kiwi bowlers on Monday morning with the main target of dragging Team India from the verge of defeat.

It was a great spell by New Zealand fast bowler Chris Martin as he picked up 5 Indian wickets to break down the Indian line up.

The Indian openers, Virender Sehwag(1) and Gautam Gambhir (0) failed to to give India a much needed start to the second innings.

Sachin Tendulkar (12), Rahul Dravid (1) and Raina (0) returned to the pavilion in quick succession.

Skipper M.S.Dhoni (22) and Laxman tried to steady the Indian innings as they played a crucial sixth wicket partnership of 50 runs, till Dhoni was bowled out by Martin.

Earlier, the New Zealand innings came to an end with Kiwis scoring 459 runs in their first innings, as India took a small first innings lead of 28 runs.

Debutant Kane Williamson scored a maiden ton this morning to help his team get past the 400 runs mark on Sunday.

Kane scored 131 runs and had hit 10 boundaries in his innings, his wicket was taken by Ojha.

He was supported well by skipper Daniel Vettori who scored 41 runs, before losing his wicket to part-time spinner Suresh Raina.

The Kiwi tail-enders were soon wrapped up by Indian bowlers as they the New Zealand first innings came to an end at 459.

Ojha was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he took 4 wickets in the game.

The pace-duo of Sreeasnth and Zaheer Khan picked up 2 wickets each and Harbhajan and Raina shared 1 wickets in the first innings.

Earlier India had scored a total of 487 runs in the first innings.