India end 33-year wait in Style

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh turned in a six-wicket haul as India registered a famous victory by beating New Zealand by 10 wickets in the first Test at Seddon Park here to take a headstart in the three-match series. The win was India’s first in a Test in New Zealand in 33 years — Sunil Gavaskar’s side won by eight wickets in 1976 at Auckland. It was also the best in terms of margin, eight wickets and 272 runs being the previous best; and only the fifth Test win in Kiwiland. It was a complete turnaround, since India had lost both Tests played in this country on their last tour, in 2003. The New Zealanders were no match for the Indians, who came on top of every session even as they were not at their best many a time. When the Kiwis began Day Four at 75/3 in their second innings, a massive 166 runs behind the Indian first innings total of 520, the writing was clearly on the wall. They were well and truly trapped, it was only a matter of time before they would be executed. The hosts took the game into the last session though courtesy some stiff resistance from the tail but it was all over bar the shouting by then.