MOHALI, India, 17 October 2003 — New Zealand openers Mark Richardson and Lou Vincent punished India with a record 231-run partnership on the first day of the second and final Test against India yesterday.
Vincent smashed a career-best 106, with 14 fours and two sixes, and Richardson was unbeaten on 102, with boundaries, on a placid batting track to help the New Zealand pile up 247 for one wicket at the close.
Their stand was the best for New Zealand against India, surpassing an unbeaten 222-run third-wicket partnership between Bert Sutcliffe and John Reid in New Delhi in 1955-56. The Indian bowlers got an early chance when left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan induced Richardson, on 10, to edge a ball that swung away late. But Rahul Dravid dropped a regulation catch at first slip, ensuring his first day as a Test captain, in place of injured skipper Saurav Ganguly, was one to forget.
The Kiwi openers made India pay for that lapse as they piled on the agony with an array of shots, justifying captain Stephen Fleming’s decision to bat first.
The 24-year-old Vincent, batting with a runner briefly after being hit on the knee by a gentle seamer from Sachin Tendulkar, raised his 50 by coming down the track and lofting off-spinner Harbhajan Singh over long-on for a six.
Richardson emulated him in equally aggressive fashion, racing from 38 to 50 by driving Zaheer to the cover fence and then flicking his next two balls for fours through mid-wicket. Vincent got his second Test century sweeping leg-spinner Anil Kumble to the square-leg boundary but was out lbw soon after trying a repeat shot 10 overs before close.
Richardson was suffering with cramp in the latter stages of his innings but hung on, even though a stretcher was called out when, on 96, he fell over for the third time trying to sweep Kumble. The 32-year-old got his third Test hundred, off 276 balls, with an edged four to the third man fence and celebrated by raising both arms toward the New Zealand dressing room. This is the sixth time both openers have scored centuries in the same innings against India, who went on to lose the match on all five previous occasions.
New Zealand had suffered a blow before the match when fast bowler Jacob Oram was ruled out with an injured left calf. He was replaced by paceman Ian Butler. India have lost just one home Test series, to South Africa in 2000, in the last 17 years. The first Test in Ahmedabad ended in a draw last week.
