Cricket Highlights

AUSTRALIA set New Zealand 479 runs to win the second Test, declaring on 8-511 lead at lunch.

Determined batting from Gautam Gambhir and VVS Laxman helped India to salvage a draw against New Zealand on the fifth day of the second Test at Napier on Monday. The second Test ended in a draw as both teams agreed to call off play with India at 476/4 following-on in their second innings.

Riding on the match-saving hundred against New Zealand in the second cricket Test, Indian batsman VVS Laxman returned to the top-20 of the ICC Rankings, up six places to 15th in the latest list.

India's stand-in captain Sehwag today lauded Gambhir for his math-saving innings and dubbed as the 'second wall' of Indian cricket Otherwise an aggressive batsman, Gambhir batted for nearly 11 hours over three days

The second India-New Zealand cricket Test ended in a draw on Monday with the visitors maintaining their 1-0 lead in the three-match series. New Zealand unrelentingly pursued victory but a resilient India, who were forced to follow-on, ensured that the second cricket Test heads to a dreary finish.

Gautam Gambhir batted almost 11 hours for 137 to guide India to 397 for four at tea on the final day of the second Test against New Zealand on Monday, steering the match towards a draw.

New Zealand captured the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar for 64, leaving India 306 for three at lunch, still eight runs in deficit on the fifth day of the second Test on Monday. Tendulkar, who reached his 52nd Test half-century on Sunday, added six runs to his overnight total of 58 before edging a catch

Gautam Gambhir struck a gutsy unbeaten century to lead a remarkable Indian fightback as the visitors raised hopes of drawing the second cricket Test against New Zealand by losing just one wicket on the fourth day in Napier on Sunday.

India may have crawled their way back into the second Test against New Zealand but the job is only half done and they would have to keep up the good work on Monday to ensure a draw, senior batsman Rahul Dravid said here on Sunday.

The Kiwis will need only a couple of good catches and a special spell by any of the bowlers on Monday to clinch the second Test against India, New Zealand coach Andy Moles said in Napier on Sunday.