New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said credit had to go to the India bowlers after the Black Caps were bowled out for 279 on the opening day of the first Test in Hamilton.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said credit had to go to the India bowlers after the Black Caps were bowled out for 279 on the opening day of the first Test in Hamilton.
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The hosts had a horror start to the Test, slumping to 60 for six before lunch at Seddon Park and it took a record seventh-wicket stand of 186 between Vettori and Jesse Ryder, who both scored centuries, to give their first innings total some respectability.
"I just think you have to give credit to the way India bowled," Vettori said.
"They fronted up and put the ball in some fantastic areas. If you look at the dismissals I don't have too many complaints about a lot of them. It was tough going in that first session.
"(The wicket) just had enough in it and the Indian bowlers swung it. They bowled exceptionally well and I think that's the main point. They bowled really well and a couple of things didn't quite go our way.
"Daniel Flynn's dismissal is always a tough one, so you've got to give them credit that they took their opportunity and seized it."
Vettori was eventually caught behind by MS Dhoni off the bowling of Munaf Patel for 118, while Ryder brought up his maiden Test ton with a four before skying the next ball to be dismissed for 102 as New Zealand's innings came to an end.
But he endured a nervous few minutes on 98 as fast bowler Chris Martin, not noted for his prowess with the bat, fended off almost a whole over from spinner Harbhajan Singh.
"I was sweating bullets but it was lucky that Chris got through those five balls and saw me through to it," the big left-hander said with a grin.
"It's a great feeling. I have thrown it away a couple of times before and just to get it is a great feeling.
"I kept it simple and stuck to what I know and it worked for me today."
Vettori was delighted with the way he and Ryder got things back on track.
"I was pleased with the way we both played," Vettori said.
"We're both pretty aggressive naturally and we sensed opportunities and we wore down their best strike bowlers.
"We always thought Ishant Sharma was going to be tough and we tried to get through his spells as much as possible and fortunately we did.
"We played well and played some right shots for the innings and the position we were in and once we did that we were able to let loose a little bit and the runs came a bit easier.
"I was pleased, particularly with Jesse and the maturity of the innings. For a guy who has only played for a little while he's built a pretty great Test record already."
Sharma, who finished with figures of four for 73 off 19.2 overs, admitted it had been hard work for the bowlers after lunch.
"In the afternoon it got flat, there was nothing for the fast bowlers and the ball was not new," he said.
"We just had to bowl in the right areas and stick to our plans."
Vettori admits his side have their work cut out on Thursday, particularly with a wicket that has lost its "bite".
India reached the close at 27 without loss after openers Virender Sehwag (22) and Gautam Gambhir (six) negotiated a seven-over spell.
Ominously for the Black Caps, Sehwag hit five boundaries before stumps were pulled to back-up Vettori's thoughts the pitch was flattening out.
"Having batted on it for two sessions I've realised that the bite has been taken out of (the wicket)," Vettori said.
"For us to go well against these guys we are going to have to bowl really well, really disciplined and be patient with them. If we don't a big total could easily pile up on us."
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