Ahmedabad: V V S Laxman and Harbhajan Singh scored half centuries as India are slowly and surely moving towards the saving the opening Test match against New Zealand here today after pacer Chris Martin ran through the top-order yesterday.
At lunch on the final day of the match, India were 164 for six in 70 overs, thereby increasing the overall lead to 192 runs with four wickets in hand.
'Crisis man' Laxman was unconquered on 65 (198 balls, 5x4, 268 mins) while the more enterprising Harbhajan Singh was batting on 60 (102 balls, 6x4, 1x6, 145 minutes). The pair added 99 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket partnership.
Laxman and Harbhajan, batting on 34 and 12 respectively as India were precariously placed at 82 for six at stumps, on fourth day, steadily re-built the home team's second innings that was left in tatters on the fourth evening by Martin's brilliant swing bowling.
With two more sessions left, all three results looked possible though the momentum seemed to have swung back India’s way after yesterday's devastating spell by Martin on either side of tea left the hosts tottering at 15 for five.
While Harbhajan batted aggressively, Laxman was content playing second fiddle during their unbroken half-century partnership that was raised in just under 45 minutes after play commenced on the last morning.
Harbhajan, who made a career-best 69 in the first innings, again showed gumption in taking the bull by its horns as he flat-batted, swept and swung his way to his second half century with a couple off wrecker-in-chief Chris Martin after Laxman had completed his a few minutes earlier.
The off spinner, who disappointed with the ball, made amends with the bat and was audacious enough to play the reverse sweep too to raise the half century stand.
While Laxman's 27th half century came in a little over 240 minutes and off 154 balls when he pulled Jeetan Patel to the deep mid-wicket boundary, Harbhajan's half century containing five boundaries and a six took him only 106 minutes and 78 deliveries.
Harbhajan thus became only the fourth No 8 batsman in the history of Test cricket to score half centuries in both innings.
The first hour of play produced 42 runs in 15 overs and the second 40 in 15.