Ross Taylor led with an enterprising century as New Zealand clambered to a respectable position on the opening day of the second Test in Bangalore, says a report in The Hindu, adding that this was a decidedly improved effort from the visitors, with none of the diffidence seen in Hyderabad. On view instead was a fine, attacking 113 by Taylor and assured fifties by Kruger van Wyk and Martin Guptill.
“At stumps, drawn eight-and-a-half overs early owing to bad light, New Zealand was 328 for six — van Wyk (63) and Bracewell (30) the men at the crease. India should be smarting at having let it slide, though. Taylor had been excised four overs after tea, and at 246 for six there was real hope of knocking the visitors over for fewer than 300,” says the report, adding that instead, van Wyk was allowed slack and he swept and pulled from all over.
“Prior to this game, the South Africa-born wicketkeeper had averaged 18 from 11 innings, with a best of 39. On Friday, he reeled off nine fours, cutting and slog-sweeping well. The pitch at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium offered turn, but nothing remarkable. Pragyan Ojha — who opened the bowling — finished with four for 90; the batsmen had boldly gone after him earlier in the day, but he reined it in either side of tea, producing a spell of 9-6-23-2,” adds the report.
Meanwhile according to a Hindustan Times report, opening batsman Martin Guptill, who hit an attacking half-century, said that the team had a meeting and it was decided to take the attack to the spinners. Any one of the shots, especially off the first few deliveries when Taylor missed a cut, swept from outside off for no run, and then defended awkwardly could have got him out. The skipper was living dangerously, but it was his day.
His six over long off against Pragyan Ojha just after reaching his century reminded many of his aggressive approach in the IPL. The Royal Challengers Bangalore is his former IPL team and he knows the ground conditions very well. "Some of the shots he played were very positive and it helps if someone plays like that," said Guptill.
Taylor had just two centuries in his previous 42 innings, and when reminded of that the previous day, he had promised to break that barren run. And this one will be remembered for a long time as it happens to be the fastest hundred by a New Zealand batsman in India. The positive approach of Taylor and Guptill even rubbed on to the struggling Daniel Flynn and wicketkeeper Kruger Van Wyk, who is there to keep the Kiwis hoping to put up a good total.
Meanwhile The Times of India writes that New Zealand have posted 300 runs or more on the first day of a Test match for the first time on Indian soil, adding that with his magnificent 113 off 127 balls, Ross Taylor became the second New Zealand skipper to record a hundred in a Test match in India. Glenn Turner was the first to record the feat - 113 at Green Park, Kanpur in 1976-77.
Taylor is one of the five New Zealanders to register three centuries against India - the other four being Jesse Ryder, John Wright, Bert Sutcliffe and Graham Dowling and his captain's knock is his second century overseas in Tests. He had recorded an unbeaten 154 against England at Old Trafford in 2008.
