India make strong start

Cricket : Opener Gautam Gambhir completed an impressive century as India gained the upper hand on the first day of the third…

Cricket: Opener Gautam Gambhir completed an impressive century as India gained the upper hand on the first day of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar series in New Delhi.

India began badly, losing Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid in quick succession, but Gambhir steadied dressing room nerves as the hosts recovered admirably to finish the day in a strong position.

At stumps, India had reached 296 for three, with Gambhir still batting on 149 and VVS Laxman on 54, the two having added 139 runs in an unbroken stand for the fourth wicket.

Gambhir had also pieced together a profitable 130-run partnership with Sachin Tendulkar, with the world's most prolific scorer adding 68 before he fell on the stroke of the tea interval.

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In Bangladesh, the second Test between New Zealand and the hosts was drawn today, meaning the Kiwis clinched the series 1-0.

After the first three days were washed out in Mirpur, the Black Caps declared their first innings on 262 for six yesterday, with the hosts doing likewise on 169 for nine in the second session today — still trailing by 93.

New Zealand moved to 79 for one in the final session to extend their overall advantage to 172 but, in what had effectively become a two-day Test, there was no time for the match to reach a positive conclusion.