Cricket: Tendulkar decides to take initiative for India

India 208 & 179-3 New Zealand 35

INDIA LED New Zealand by 35 runs at the close of play yesterday on the third day of the second Test in Wellington with seven second innings wickets still in hand. Sachin Tendulkar, on 42, and Saurav Ganguly, 47, were together after a partnership of 67 that saw India to 179 for 3.

New Zealand, after a record eighth-wicket partnership of 137 between Dion Nash and Daniel Vettori, were all out soon after lunch in their first innings for 352, a lead of 144. With two days left, victory remains in New Zealand's sights, although Tendulkar and Mohammed Azharuddin, who made103 in the first innings, are the main obstacles to overcome.

Two of the three wickets that India lost were due to impetuosity. Ajay Jadeja dragged the ball on to his stumps in playing a ferocious pull at Nash and Rahul Dravid fell as he charged at the off-spinner Paul Wiseman in his first over. His dismissal left India at 112 for 3.

Despite the grim situation Tendulkar went on the offensive, hitting six fours and a six in his unbeaten 42.

Third day; India won toss

INDIA - First Innings 208 (M Azharuddin 103; S B Doull 7-65).

NEW ZEALAND - First Innings

(Overnight: 290 for 7)

D J Nash not out 89

D L Vettori b Tendulkar 57

P J Wiseman b Tendulkar 0

S B Doull lbw b Kumble 0

Extras (b13, lb19, nb5) 37

Total (148.4 overs) 352

Fall (cont): 8-345 9-352.

Bowling: Srinath 36-6-89-1 (5nb); Venkatesh Prasad 30-8-67-2; Kumble 45.4-18-83-4; Singh 25-6-61-0; Ganguly 6-0-13-0; Tendulkar 6-2-7-2.

INDIA - Second Innings

A D Jadeja b Nash 22

N S Sidhu lbw b Doull 34

R S Dravid b Wiseman 28

S C Ganguly not out 47

S R Tendulkar not out 42

Extras (nb5, lb1) 6

Total (for 3, 52 overs) 179

Fall: 1-41 2-74 3-112.

To bat: *M Azharuddin, N R Mongia, A Kumble, J Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, H Singh.

Bowling: Doull 12-4-26-1 (1nb); Cairns 11-1-47-0 (2nb); Nash 6-4-7-1 (1nb); Vettori 10-2-44-0 (1nb); McMillan 6-2-16-0; Wiseman 8-1-38-1.

Umpires: E A Nicholls (WI) and E A Watkin (NZ).