HYDERABAD, India: A fine 81 from Mohammad Azharuddin and unexpected help from the tail enders propelled India to a first innings lead of 104 over New Zealand in the third test on Sunday.
‘The home slide was all out for 358 after lunch on the third day of the deciding match of the series.
In seven overs before tea New Zealand made 23 without loss in their second innings.
Azharuddin, 35 overnight lost his fifth wicket partner Ravi Shastri for 42 in the second over of the day when Trevor Franklin took a dolly catch at short leg off Ewen Chatfield.
The stand of 67 in 75 minutes had nevertheless been crucial and was followed by an exhilarating partnership of62 in 15.3 overs with Kapil Dev.
Kapil hit five fours as he raced 10 40 from 48 balls before skying a catch to cover off Richard Hadlee. Azharuddin was caught behind off Chatfield in the first over after lunch, having hit eleven fours in his 134-ball stay.
But with Hadlee not at his best with Tendon trouble; New Zealand was unable to finish off last-wicket pair Sanjeev Sharma and Narendra Hirwani quickly.
They stood their ground for 55 minutes, adding a valuable 36 runs, before Snedden finally took a diving return catch to dismiss Hirwani,
Article extracted from this publication >> December 9, 1988
