SPORTS

Records aplenty for India in Napier

By Rajneesh Gupta
April 02, 2009 13:01 IST

Gautam Gambhir batted for almost 11 hours and VVS Laxman stroked his 14th Test century to ensure India secured a draw in the second Test against New Zealand in Napier on Monday.

India, forced to follow on after being bowled out for 305, declared their second innings closed at 476 for four.

With New Zealand needing 163 to win in less than 17 overs, both captains agreed to call the match off.

Laxman was unbeaten on 124 and Yuvraj Singh was 54 not out for India, who lead the three-match series 1-0 after a 10-wicket victory in the Hamilton Test.

A look at the few milestones that India create enroute to saving the Napier Test.

Longest innings played by India

India batted for 1080 balls (180 overs) in the second innings of the Napier Test.

This was only the eighth instance of India facing 1,000 balls in second innings of a Test. The last such instance was also against New Zealand at Mohali in 1999-00.

The details:

Balls Total Opponent Venue Season Result
1256 510 v England Leeds 1967 Lost
1254 438-7d v New Zealand Kolkata 1955-56 Drawn
1201 362-7d v West Indies Port of Spain 1952-53 Drawn
1186 427 v West Indies Port of Spain 1970-71 Drawn
1132 445 v Australia Adelaide 1977-78 Lost
1113 187 v West Indies Bridgetown 1961-62 Lost
1098 505-3d v New Zealand Mohali 1999-00 Drawn
1080 476-4 v New Zealand Napier 2008-09 Drawn
1068 444 v West Indies Kingston 1952-53 Drawn
1068 657-7d v Australia Kolkata 2000-01 Won
1023 465 v Pakistan Lahore 1978-79 Lost

Longest innings by Indian batsmen :

Opener Gambhir batted for 642 minutes (10 hours 42 minutes) in India's second innings of Napier Test.

He provided only the 11th instance of an Indian batting for more than 10 hours in an innings. Gambhir's performance is the seventh best overall and third best in an away Test.

The details:

Mins Batsman Score Opponent Venue Season
740 R Dravid 270 v Pakistan Rawalpindi 2003-04
708 SM Gavaskar 172 v England Bangalore 1981-82
673 NS Sidhu 201 v West Indies Port of Spain 1996-97
671 AD Gaekwad 201 v Pakistan Jalandhar 1983-84
644 SM Gavaskar 236* v West Indies Chennai 1983-84
643 GR Viswanath 222 v England Chennai 1981-82
642 G Gambhir 137 v New Zealand Napier 2008-09
631 VVS Laxman 281 v Australia Kolkata 2000-01
629 R Dravid 217 v England The Oval 2002
613 SR Tendulkar 241* v Australia Sydney 2003-04
608 VG Kambli 224 v England Mumbai 1992-93

Highest totals after following-on:

India's 476 for four in the second innings of Napier Test is their third highest in a Test after they were forced to follow-on.

The details:

Score Opponent Venue Season Result (for India)
657-7d Australia Calcutta 2000-01 Won-171 runs
510 England Leeds 1967 Lost- 6 wkts
476-4d New Zealand Napier 2008-09 Drawn
463-5d New Zealand Mumbai Brabourne 1964-65 Drawn
422 West Indies Port-of-Spain 1961-62 Lost-7 wkts

Rajneesh Gupta

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