MCLEAN PARK, NAPIER, NEWZELAND MARCH
25, 2009
SECOND TEST MATCH—INDIA Vs. NEWZWLAND
GAUTAM GAMBHIR’S HEROIC PERFORMANCE
SARASIJ MAJUMDER
New Zealand 619-9d v
India 305 & 476-4d: Match Drawn, McLean Park, Napier, March 25, 2009 |
Cricket Results | Wisden.
The above is how WISDEN described it. It failed to arrest
the spirit of the match.
Though CRICKET is a TEAM GAME, occasionally, a player leaves
a telling mark on some match—that that match can be named on his name.
Gambhir’s stoic stand in the Napier Test against New
Zealand, 2009 showed highly admirable Batsmanship skill, courage, and
discipline to bring back the TEST from the JAWS of DEFEAT.
I saw the batting completely, in TV, and only the pen of
immortal Nevil Cardus could have described properly such impeccable batsmanship
of GATI.
His marathon effort to save the Test match shall be listed as one of India's finest
individual performances overseas. When the team was in need, he
showed his true character through his performance. Aptly, his stubbornness,
tremendous discipline, perseverance and mental strength instilled
confidence within the side, and all contributed to achieve the impossible.
THE
INNINGS THAT MATTERED
1.
Overseas Condition – Cloudy, and
windy at New Zealand.
2.
India was all out at 305 in the first innings,
was trailing by 314 runs, and were asked
to follow on. It was thought almost impossible to void defeat with more than two days
left in the game, with such a huge arrear..
3.
GATI scored 137 off 436 deliveries, a vigil
which lasted an incredible 643 minutes.
4.
He played both the days—a sheet anchor innings
to the perfect.
5.
His Blockathon, negotiating 436 deliveries was more than 41
percent of the total balls India needed to bat to save the Test
6.
When India required a Test-saving knock in
Napier against New Zealand, even the best of the team ( Rahul Dravid, Sachin
Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, V Sehwag) could not bat so long.
DETAILS OF MATCH
New Zealand had posted a very big total of 619 in their 1st innings. Tired Indian
team could respond with only 305 all out in first innings, and New Zealand
enforced a follow on. With the 314 runs
still in arrear, Indian openers Sehwag and
Gambhir opened the 2nd innings.
GATI has not taken the easy
route. The pitch was flat and
he could have easily gone for quick runs. But he didn't want to leave the job
unfinished. The spinners kept tempting him with slightly wide looping
loose balls thrown up just outside off stamp again, and again. They
wanted to purchase his wicket. But he didn't yield to the temptation. He
suppressed his natural attacking game for more than 11 hours and
showed fierce focus to take India into the final stage.
Smarting from the ignominy of a follow on and facing the
onerous task of saving the match, he took centre-stage and showed tremendous
application, on the way forging crucial partnerships with
Rahul Dravid (62), Sachin Tendulkar (64) and VVS Laxman (124 not out) in the
process. When he was out—India was HOME.
He was like the cog around which the Indian innings purred
without a stutter. It appeared as if he was not going to commit a
single mistake in that innings. It
was an innings of great resilience and temperament. An innings which shall be
seen by all future openers as TEXT BOOK INNINGS in difficult condition.
INDIA SAVED THE TEST SERIES, AND WON IT AFTER 3RD
AND FINAL TEST.
Gautam Gambhir, was
named Man of the Match for the final Test as well as Man of the Series.
Reference, and Acknowledgement:-
1.0 I Saw the match in TV.
2.0 https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-new-zealand-2008-09-366616
3.0 https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-series/1595/india-in-new-zealand-test-series-2009/matches
4.0 https://www.thequint.com/sports/cricket/gautam-gambhir-top-five-innings.
5.0 Image: GOOGLE
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