India in New Zealand, 2008/09
India Thrash New Zealand by 10 Wickets, Lead Series 1-0
21-Mar-2009 10:39:00 IST

Hamilton: India win first Test by 10 wickets with new opening pair Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir in 5.2 overs after New Zealand bowled out in second innings 279 like first innings.

India's first Test win in New Zealand since the Auckland Test of 1976. They take a 1-0 lead in the series and have lived up to their billing at least in this game. The match headed in their direction at lunch on the opening day with NZ at 61 for 6.

New Zealand mounted a fightback but their bowlers failed to back the efforts of Vettori and Ryder. India oiled on the half-centuries, Tendulkar scored an exquisite 160 and there was no looking back. The adjudicators for the Man of the Match will have a tough choice between Tendulkar and Harbhajan, whose 6 for 63 happens to be his best Test figures away from home.

Harbhajan Singh claimed six wickets, as New Zealand were bundled out for 279 in their second innings on Day 4 of the first Test against India at Hamilton.

• This is India's first Test victory in New Zealand after 1976 at Auckland.
• India's ten-wicket win in Hamilton was their 32nd overseas and their fifth in New Zealand.
  
• India's biggest innings lead againsts Kiwis in New Zealand, bettering  their 148-runs lead in the 1975-76, Auckland.
• Of the 17 Tests they've played since 2007, New Zealand have won four and lost nine. Three of their wins came against Bangladesh, and one against England in Hamilton in March 2008.
  
• India, in response to New Zealand's total of 279, have managed to post 520, their first over total of 500 in New Zealand.
• This is India's second ten-wicket win overseas. Their previous such victory came against Zimbabwe in Harare in September 2005.
  
• Sachin registered his 42nd century, extending his record for most overseas hundreds (24) as well.
• Sachin equalling Donald Bradman's tally of eighteen 150-plus knocks. Only WI formar skipper Lara recorded more 150-plus scores 19 times.
• Sachin emulated Steve Waugh and Lara with ten innings of 150-plus.
• Harbhajan Singh's figures of 6 for 63 are his best in an innings overseas, and third in the list of best performances by Indian spinners in a Test innings in New Zealand. Seventeen of Harbhajan's 23 five-wicket hauls have come in India. 

Brief Score: India 520 (Tendulkar 160, Gambhir 72, Dravid 66, Zaheer 51*) and 39/0 beat New Zealand 279 (Vettori 118, Ryder 102, Ishant 4-73) and 279 (McCullum 84, Flynn 67, Harbhajan 6-63) by ten wickets.