Weather at Wellington played a big role for New Zealand which helps them to save the third test match for them. At 281/8, New Zealand was on the mat and it was certain that India will clinch the series 2-0 however the rain god has other ideas that save New Zealand from big defeat.
Fifth days play doesn’t belong to India as they dropped three catches and that allowed New Zealand to save the game. The game could have been over few overs back before rain arrival, if Ishant Sharma doesn’t dropped a simple chance at square leg after Iain O'Brien had slogged Tendulkar. Then umpire S.Taufell turned a lbw shout from Harbhajan down which was probably plumb. H.Singh got one ball to turned sharply and that hit Daniel Vettori right in front of the wicket but umpire thought otherwise.
But that didn’t prevented India from registering a famous series win in New Zealand. M.S.Dhoni became only second Indian captain to win the test series on New Zealand soil and that to after 41 years. First captain to achieve this was Mansur Ali Khan Patuadi who let the side to 3-1 victory in 1968.
The Indian team who played an excellent cricket in both forms of the game whether it was ODI’s or Test series and they are on well verge of famous win at Wellington after taking four New Zealand wickets on fifth day play before light rain stopped play after 30 minutes post lunch session. At that time New Zealand Captain D.Vettori (15 runs) and I.O’Brien (19 runs) was at the crease.
Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh was pick of the bowler in third test match. Both bowled extremely well and ended with match figure of 122/7 and 102/7 respectively.
Earlier Indians were frustrated by the overnight not out batsman Ross Taylor (107 runs) and J.Franklin (49 runs) as both put on 142 runs fro the fifth wicket. R.Taylor after completing his test century was dismissed by Harbhajan Singh which was India first wicket of morning session. Then man with Golden Arm Sachin Tendulkar removed J.Franklin and B.McCullum (6 runs) to give India hope of bowling out New Zealand quickly. Just after tea Harbhajan Singh removed T.Southee to picked his fourth wicket of an inning and seventh wicket of the match.
However rain started to get heavier as the time pass by which prevented India from registering their 100th test win.
Stats after Test Series Completion
Most Runs scored by Batsman in IndiaNew Zealand Test Series 2008/09
Player Name
M
I
Runs
HS
Avg.
100’s
50’s
G.Gambhir
3
6
445
167
89.00
2
1
S.Tendulkar
3
5
344
160
68.8
1
2
J.Ryder
3
5
327
201
65.40
2
0
R.Taylor
3
5
322
151
64.40
2
0
R.Dravid
3
6
314
83
62.80
0
4
Most Wickets taken by Bowlers in IndiaNew Zealand Test Series 2008/09
Player Name
M
WKTS
BBI
BBM
Avg.
5wkt
H.Singh
3
16
6/63
7/102
21.37
1
C.Martin
3
14
4/98
7/168
32.71
0
Z.Khan
3
13
5/65
7/122
30.76
1
I.O’Brien
3
9
3/103
4/189
50.22
0
I.Sharma
3
8
4/73
4/135
41.75
0
G.Gambhir was declared Man of the Match for his brilliant century in second inning.
