Kumble guides India to easy win

New Zealand 145 and 233 India 228 and 151-2 India win by 8 wickets

The leg-spinner Anil Kumble completed a match haul of 9 for 120 and opener Ajay Jadeja hit a stylish 73 as India beat New Zealand by eight wickets in the first Test in Bangalore.

India, needing 151 to win after dismissing New Zealand for 233 in their second innings, cruised home with an hour and two days to spare.

Jadeja struck 73 off 92 deliveries before he was caught by Adam Parore at cover as he tried to square drive Matthew Hart. He added 101 with his fellow opener Manoj Prabhakar (43), the pair leaving Sanjay Manjrekar (29 not out) to complete the job at 151 for 2.

New Zealand, 125 for 5 overnight, lost Chris Cairns to Javagal Srinath in the first over of the day without adding to his 23. Kumble then removed Stephen Fleming for 41, taking an easy return catch.

Germon, leading his country on his Test debut, scored 41 to hold up the home side, hitting six boundaries before falling lbw to Kumble. Hart (27 not out) offered a late flourish, but Kumble wrapped up the innings by accounting for Danny Morrison.

Scoreboard, Sporting Digest, page 31