Gambhir ton frustrates New Zealand

Sachin Tendulkar salutes Gautam Gambhir on his ton which could salvage a draw

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A gritty unbeaten 102 from Gautam Gambhir and a stylish 58 not out from Sachin Tendulkar boosted India’s hopes of securing a draw and preserving their 1-0 series lead in the three-match rubber.

Having been made to follow on after being bowled out for just 305 in their first innings in reply to the Black Caps' 619 for nine declared, Gambhir and Tendulkar steered the visitors to 252 for two by the close on day four to leave them trailing by 62 runs.

It was a long hot day in the field for New Zealand at McLean Park in Napier and the bowlers toiled hard for little reward with Daniel Vettori, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien and Chris Martin doing the bulk of the work.

India resumed on 47 for one after losing the wicket of stand-in captain Virender Sehwag to Patel late on day three.

Gambhir and Rahul Dravid batted steadily through the morning, adding 72 runs, but the session was not without its dramas with Dravid surviving a run-out chance in just the second over of the day when James Franklin missed the stumps with the batsman out of his ground.

Gambhir, who began the day on 14, survived a couple of lbw appeals and a big shout for a catch when a Jeetan Patel delivery hit his pad and flew to Jesse Ryder at short leg.

He went on to bring up his 11th Test 50 with his eighth boundary of the innings a short time later.

By lunch he was on 60 and Dravid, who resumed on 11, had inched his way to 34, although he did crack a six off Patel to the on-side.

Dravid reached his 56th Test half-century with a nice off drive that earned him two runs off Vettori a couple of overs before drinks in the afternoon.

His fifty took 180 balls and included just four boundaries and that solitary six. It was the 10th time the 36-year-old had reached 50 or more in both innings of a Test.

Rahul Dravid trudges off for 62 following Jamie How's sharp take off Daniel Vettori

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The next over Gambhir, on 73, gave Patel a caught and bowled chance but the ball flew just out of reach of the spinner's outstretched hand.

Then in the over after drinks Franklin wasted another run out opportunity when he opted to throw to the non-striker's end instead of to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

But the partnership was eventually broken when a Vettori delivery flicked off Dravid's pad and Jamie How took a diving catch at short leg.

The batsman was stunned by umpire Ian Gould's decision with replays showing the ball going nowhere near his bat or gloves.

It brought to an end a 63 over, 133-run partnership for the second wicket in which Dravid faced 220 balls in four hours for his 62.

Gambhir and Tendulkar then survived the remaining 7.4 overs to tea to leave India trailing by 134 runs at 180 for two.

Tendulkar stepped up the pace in the final session, taking 13 runs off Martin's second over with the second new ball after tea.

Having taken 25 balls to reach nine at tea, the revered India batsman raced to his 52nd Test half-century in just 89 balls, hitting seven fours and a streaky six along the way.

He brought up his milestone with a single off Vettori and three balls later Gambhir hit his 14th boundary to bring up his 265-ball hundred.

The pair then carried on with their patient work to see India through to the close.

New Zealand's wicket-taker Vettori finished the day with 1-48 from 24 overs, including seven maidens while fellow spinner Patel bowled some good tight spells to end day four with 1-73 off 28 overs.