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Sehwag flays bowling after New Zealand total 350

Openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir gave India a flying start after the bowlers triggered a New Zealand batting collapse on the second day of the second test on Saturday.

The hosts were 178 for two at the close, trailing by 172 runs, with Rahul Dravid (7) and Sachin Tendulkar (11) at the crease.

Resuming on 258 for four after Tim McIntosh’s opening day ton, New Zealand added just 92 runs for the loss of six wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Sehwag (96) then tore into the Kiwi bowling, and put on 160 for the first wicket with Gambhir (54), before being bowled by captain Daniel Vettori while attempting a slog sweep.

The swashbuckling Sehwag shifted gears after completing his half-century and hit 15 boundaries and a huge six during his 120-ball stay.

Gambhir, desperate for a big score after a recent poor run of form, compiled a gritty half-century. He fell soon after his opening partner, caught down the legside off paceman Tim Southee.

Earlier, in a fiery spell, left-armer Zaheer Khan (4-69) trapped Gareth Hopkins (4) and Kane Williamson (4) leg before as he swung the ball back from around the wicket.

Spinner Harbhajan Singh chipped in by removing Vettori (11), Jesse Ryder (70), Southee (10) and Chris Martin (3) to foil New Zealand’s chances of a formidable first-innings score.

Ryder took the attack to India with 10 boundaries. He was particularly punishing on an erratic Shanthakumaran Sreesanth before edging Harbhajan to Vangipurappu Laxman in the slips.

The three-match series is tied at 0-0 after the opening test was drawn in Ahmedabad.