Those NZ test victories in India in full. Part 2

The second victory in India came in 1988 in, strangely, New Zealand’s first visit there in 12 years.  Even stranger given that period remains the most successful in New Zealand cricket history.

As in 1969, the first test was lost.  That test will be best remembered for Chris Kuggeleijn taking the catch to get rid of Arun Lal and make Richard Hadlee the greatest wicket-taker in Test history at the time, and the fact that 12 of the 15 tourists picked up a viral disease, meaning that Bryan Waddle and others needed to don their whites; just in case.

John Wright’s side won the toss and batted.  The captain and Greatbatch both got starts but at 158/8 things were looking a bit grim.

John Bracewell may have ended up with a test average of just over 20, but in the 1980s he often made valuable contributions in test victories.  The sort of player who scored runs when it matered most.  Here he scored a half century and was ably assisted in a ninth wicket stand of 76 with, um, Danny Morrison.  New Zealand made 236.

In reply Srikkanth, who was a prototype for Sehwag to follow, took the New Zealand attack on. He shared a century stand with captain Vengsarkar and it looked as if the hosts would pull away.

But these were the days of Richard Hadlee, and India was all out for 232, with Hadlee ending up with 6/49.  New Zealand led by two,

The visitors’ second innings was anchored by Andrew Jones with a (presumably) gutsy 78.  But 6/32 in the middle order meant New Zealand were in a similar position to the first day at 181/8.  But once again it was that man Bracewell; this tie in a support role to Ian Smith (52).

A target of 282 was set, and we should not overlook Chatfield’s contribution of 2(32) in a last wicket stand of 29.

Srikkanth shouldered arms to Hadlee’s first ball and, for the first time, India was officially in trouble.

It was a position of dominance New Zealand never relinquished with the contrasting attack of Hadlee and Man-of-the-match Bracewell (6/51).  India’s last five wickets fell for 11, and New Zealand won by 136 runs.

In the end Chatfield got two first innings wickets, but the other 18 were shared between Hadlee and Bracewell.

You may have thought the Kuggeleijn reference above was a bit odd, but it’s a chance to give this another airing, and people never seem to tire of it.