India smirks at series win

New Zealand lost.

The series, that is. Otherwise, the game was a draw.

I supported them to the end, so I get all the credit for any success they had, which was little. Rain was their only saviour. Seeing as the match is over now, I'm allowed to be honest. New Zealand were fucked from the moment Chris Martin was sent out to bat with less than 200 on the board. I was obliged to continue ranting on about how they'd win the match, but anyone could tell this would be a draw or a loss.

It should have been a loss. NZ will be thanking their lucky stars for a draw. The highlights of their day were few. Ross Taylor scored 107, by far the most valuable NZ player this innings. James Franklin also hit 49, before Tendulkar trapped him. Interestingly, our favourite blogger also hit 19 off 17 balls, so that's an impressive personal victory for him.

Dravid is continuing to motor away with those catches. He's up to 184 now, that's 3 in one day. By the time he retires, that record is going to be quite imposing.

Looking good while your face is hidden behind a helmet isn't hard - Just ask Tim

Gautam Gambhir was awarded Man of the Match. He was pleased to receive his award.

He's not going to drink it, of course. That would be blasphemy.

When receiving the award, Ghambir announced that tonight he'd "go out to local supermarkets to pick up hot chicks". Nice.

New Zealand on top

Of who, you say? Of India. The Kiwis declared at 619/9 on the second day of the Napier test. Among their significant achievers:

• Jesse Ryder, scoring his maiden double century, but then getting out on the very next ball, trying to hit a wide ball. Such is life. And notice how he no longer gets posts devoted entirely to him? It means I am making progress in the department of treating him like any other NZer.
• Brendon McCullum had a good day too, not out on 103 when NZ declared.
• James Franklin, who was run out on 52.
• Dan Vettori hit 43, and bizarrely decided to declare without hitting 7 more runs.

Jesse Ryder's 201 is the 3rd highest individual score a Kiwi has achieved against India. Graham Dowling rounds out the best with a 238 in 1968, and Bert Sutcliffe comes next with 230 n.o. in a 1955 match.

Quite an achievement.