India restrict New Zealand to 350 in 1st innings

HYDERABAD: Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan shared five wickets as India bounced back on the second day of the second Test against New Zealand on Saturday.

The off-spinner found his form with the ball after Zaheer picked two wickets in his opening spell to reduce the visitors to 341-9 at lunch at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, hosting its first Test.

Brent Arnel was batting on four and Chris Martin was yet to open his account at the break.

Zaheer struck in the third over of the day when overnight batsman Gareth Hopkins (four) shouldered arms to an outswinger from the seamer and was trapped leg before wicket.

The bowler earned a bigger scalp three overs later, dismissing cheaply first Test centurion Kane Williamson who was caught plumb in front as he tried to drive the ball to the leg-side.

Harbhajan picked his first wicket of the match by having Daniel Vettori lbw when he was on 11, New Zealand slipping to 312-7 from the overnight 258-4.

Jesse Ryder (70) continued his love affair with India, reaching his fifth Test half-century with a pulled four over backward point off fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.

The left-handed batsman, who made 103 in the drawn first Test at Ahmedabad, has scored all his three Test centuries against India, including a career-best 201.

But his dream of scoring a big one again was shattered by Harbhajan who had him caught at first slip by Venkatsai Laxman, playing his first Test on his home ground.

Ryder struck 10 fours in his 120-ball innings.

Tim Southee was stumped by Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Harbhajan one over before the lunch break, leaving India one wicket away from bowling out the visitors.