Hamilton, March 19
India batted cautiously to take control of the first cricket Test against New Zealand here today with their top-order laying the foundation for a substantial first innings lead.

The visitors rode in notable contributions from Gautam Gambhir (72), Rahul Dravid (66) and Sachin Tendulkar (unbeaten 70) to reach a comfortable 278 for four at the end of second day's play, trailing by just one run.

It was not a flamboyant approach but a steady and watchful display by the formidable Indian batsmen, who were quite content in curbing their natural stroke-play.

Tendulkar held the innings together and Yuvraj Singh (8) was giving him company at stumps on an absorbing day's play at Seddon Park.

Tendulkar's 135-ball innings, embellished with 11 fours, was flawless except for a mistimed pull shot off rival skipper Daniel Vettori which could have cut short his strides at individual score of 13.

Daniel Flynn could not hold on to the tough chance as he ran backwards from short mid-wicket but the bowl touched his finger tips before landing on the ground.

Resuming at 29 for no loss, India lost dashing Virender Sehwag in the morning session but Gambhir and Dravid ensured there was no further setbacks with a 105-run partnership.

Tendulkar and stylish VVS Laxman (30) were going smoothly as the duo added 61 for the fourth wicket but Chris Martin broke the partnership with the second new ball.

Tendulkar exorcised his initial uncertainties with perseverance and executed some glorious cuts and drives, a crunchy straight drive off Martin indicating that the little genius was back in his elements Martin, who was the pick of the Kiwis fast bowlers with 2 for 53, vindicated his captain's faith in him as he bowled sharp and accurate spells to straitjacket the Indian batsmen.

At one stage, India were cruising along at the 142 for one, with Gambhir and Dravid raising 105 runs for the second wicket, a position from where they could have possibly taken control of the game.

But a persistent Martin produced the breakthrough.

The right arm fast-medium bowler was rewarded for his wicket-to-wicket line when Gambhir, who notched up his 10th half century in his 23rd Test, nibbled at a delivery which left late off the seam, offering Brendon McCullum a regulation catch.

Dravid was in supreme form, before Iain O'Brien found the gate between bat and pad to hit the top of off stump. But by then, Dravid had registered his 54th half-century.

In the morning, play began 15 minutes late today as overnight rain had rendered the outfield wet. Resuming from their overnight 29 for no loss India suffered an early setback when Sehwag fell victim to an injudicious second run.

Gambhir played Kyle Mills to covers and called a reluctant Sehwag for a second run, even as James Franklin swooped down on the ball.

Franklin's direct hit caught Sehwag desperately outside the safety of the crease at the non-strikers end. Sehwag could add only two runs to his overnight 22, which was embellished with five boundaries.

Gambhir, who adventurously walked down the aisle to hit the bowlers on the up, and Dravid batted with aplomb to keep the Kiwis, excited over Sehwag's early demise, at bay.

Gambhir was the more productive of two, driving, cutting, pulling and tucking the ball with finesse.

Dravid was confidence-personified, playing a couple of attractive cuts of Mills and O'Brien, who erred in length while searching for extra pace from the drying deck.

Scoreboard
New Zealand (1st Innings): 279

India (1st innings): (overnight 29/0)

Gambhir c B McCullum b C Martin 72

Sehwag run out 24

Dravid b O' Brien 66

Tendulkar batting 70

Laxman c Taylor b O'Brien 30

Yuvraj batting 8

Extras: (b-1, lb-2, nb-5): 8

Total: (four wkts, 90.5 overs): 278

Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-142, 3-177, 4-238.

Bowling: Chris Martin 20-7-53-2, Kyle Mills 15-2-70-0, Iain O'Brien 19.5-4-56-1, James Fraklin 13-1-46-0, Daniel Vettori 16-2-40-0, Jesse Ryder 7-5-10-0. — PTI 

Jaipur, March 19
He was booked in separate cases of forgery and misappropriation of funds before being humbled in the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) elections a few days back, but it seems troubles for IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi are far from over.

The state government today hit out at Modi for shifting IPL matches out of Jaipur, stating that it had problem with just a couple of match dates and not the entire tournament.

Speaking to select mediapersons here, Rajasthan Home Minister Shanti Dhariwal blamed Modi for pulling IPL out of Jaipur.

Dhariwal said, "It is an arbitrary decision for which the people will not forgive Modi. The people of the state are feeling cheated."

Regarding the state government's security concerns, he clarified that out of the six matches scheduled for Jaipur they only had issues with the two dates which they wanted to be rescheduled.

The Home Minister also accused the IPL of keeping the state government out of loop regarding its decision to pull out from Rajasthan. He said the IPL did not communicate with the state government before taking the decision of shifting matches out of Jaipur and they only came to know about it through newspapers.

He said the manner in which the IPL shifted matches out of Jaipur raises a question mark on the organisers' intention to hold them in the Pink City.

Modi could not be contacted for his comments despite repeated attempts. However, after sending revised schedule to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, he had said, "We had scheduled games for Jaipur, but the Home Ministry has asked them to be removed because they have issues about providing the paramilitary forces. It is now between the Home Ministry and the Rajasthan government." 

BRIEFLY

No interest in keeping hockey under IOA: Kalmadi
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Samaraweera discharged from hospital
Colombo: Two weeks after suffering a bullet injury in the heinous terror attack in Lahore, Sri Lankan middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera was today discharged from the hospital here. Samaraweera was treated at the privately-run Nawaloka hospital where a bullet from his left leg was removed after he the Sri Lankan team returned home from Lahore. "He has started physiotherapy and should hopefully resume training towards the end of April," his manager Charlie Austin said. Seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach Paul Fabrace of England were injured, while eight Pakistanis, including six policemen were killed when the team convoy was attacked by 12 gunmen while its was on its way to the Gaddafi Stadium on March 3 for the third day's play in the second Test. Samaraweera said the first thought that came in his mind after the attack was that his cricketing career was over. — PTI

Tirkey draws inspiration from Tendulkar, Paes and Bhutia
Bhubaneswar: Standing at the threshhold of becoming the most capped international hockey player of all time, veteran Dilip Tirkey said he draws inspiration from greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Leander Paes and Bhaichung Bhutia who are still going strong despite their age. The 31-year-old Indian defender's participation in the upcoming Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia in April will take him past the former Dutch captain Jeroen Delmee, who retired after representing his country in 401 matches. "It will be an honour for me (to become the most capped international hockey player). There is lot of pride attached with this and it will be of great value," Tirkey told PTI before he left for Bhopal to attend the national camp ahead of the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament. — PTI

Humpy beats Antoaneta to regain joint lead
Istanbul: Grandmaster Koneru Humpy reclaimed the joint lead after recording a thumping victory over former world champion Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria in the 10th round of the IS Bank Atatyurk Women Grand Prix chess event here on Thursday. Humpy was also helped by other results as Marie Sebag of France defeated overnight leader Zhao Xue of China, while second seed Yifan Hao of China was held to a draw by Elina Danielian of Armenia. The Indian has thus joined Zhao and Yifan at the top of the pile with 7.5 points out of a possible 10 with one round remaining. However, Yifan will have an edge in the final round as she is up against the off-colour Shen Yang of China. Humpy will have to beat Marie Sebag in order to stay in the hunt for the title while Zhao will face a tough opponent in Elina. — UNI

NRI to head English county
London: NRI entrepreneur Nathu Puri has been appointed as the President of English county side Nottinghamshire and has become the first Indian to hold such a post. Professor Puri, listed by the 'Daily Telegraph' among the 20 wealthiest Asians in Britain, has been appointed the President of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club (NCCC). ''I believe he (Puri) is the first Indian President, (this) is by no means a small achievement, considering, the game originated in England in the 16th Century,'' NCCC Chairman Peter Wright said. Puri, who is popularly known as Nat, said,''I am a lifelong cricket supporter and with this appointment, I now have the perfect excuse to spend more time at Trent Bridge.'' ''One of the first things I did when I arrived in Nottingham, in 1967, was to become a member of the NCCC and I have enjoyed visiting the grounds ever since,'' said Puri, founder of the Nottingham-based Purico Group of Companies, that is valued at over 100 million pounds. — UNI