Early Blows Leave India with A Mountain Total By New Zealand

New Zealand's Jesse Ryder celebrates his 200 runs against India on the 2nd day of the 2nd international cricket test at McLean Park, Napier,

Napier: At the close of play, India trailed by 540 runs with Rahul Dravid (21) and Sachin Tendulkar (0) at the crease.

Daniel Vettori was lucky to get the third breakthrough when night watchman Ishant Sharma (0) was adjudged out leg before wicket by umpire Ian Gould even though there was an indise edge.

This was shortly after Jeetan Patel dismissed Gautam Gambhir in his first over to reduce India to 73/2.

Patel gave the Kiwis the second breakthrough when Gambhir (16) needlessly charged down the pitch and mistimed a hit to mid-on where Vettori took an easy catch.

Vettori out witted Sehwag with his variations by first bowling a full delivery that was hit by Sehwag over long-on for a six. He hit a six and and 5 fours in his 34-run knock that came off 26 balls.

The huge Kiwi total was build on three 100-run partnerships and 5 individual scores of 50 or more in the innings. The Kiwis maintained a run rate in excess of 4 runs per over throughout their innings to notch up their third highest total ever. The declaration came at the fall of Jeetan Patel (1) who was caught by Ishant Sharma off Harbhajan Singh.

Ryder reached the 200 when he pulled a Zaheer Khan delivery to fine leg but edged the very next delivery onto his stumps to end his magnificent performance of patience, endurance and skill that was studded with a six and 24 fours.

Ryder is the first double centurion for New Zealand since Stephen Fleming in 2006 and the third Kiwi batsman to hit a double century against India.

Before tea, Brendon McCullum hit his third century and first in New Zealand reaching the milestone with a square cut off India captain Virender Sehwag, his 11th hit to the fence.

For India, Zaheer and Ishant took three wickets each for expand 129 and 95 runs repectively, while Harbhajan get two wickets and Frankline run out by Yuvraj Singh on 52.

Brief Score: India 79/3 (Vettori 2-16) trail New Zealand 619/9d (Ryder 201, McCullum 115, Vettori 55, Franklin 52) by 540 runs.