India bowlers earn Vettori praise

Ishant Sharma enjoys the dismissal of James Franklin, one of his four wickets

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori saluted the India attack after his side were bowled out for just 279 on the opening day of the first Test in Hamilton.

The hosts slumped to 60 for six before Vettori and Jesse Ryder restored respectability with determined centuries, sharing a stand of 186 for the seventh wicket.

However, the efforts of Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel, who claimed 4-73 and 3-60 respectively, left India in charge of this contest. They closed on 29 without loss in reply.

“You have to give credit to the way India bowled,” Vettori said. “They fronted up and put the ball in some fantastic areas.

“If you look at the dismissals I don’t have too many complaints about a lot of them. It was tough going in that first session.

“(The wicket) just had enough in it and the Indian bowlers swung it. They bowled exceptionally well and I think that’s the main point.

“They bowled really well and a couple of things didn’t quite go our way. They took their opportunity and seized it.”

Vettori was caught behind off Patel for 118, while Ryder made 102 - his maiden Test hundred - before he became the last man out.

He endured a nervous few minutes on 98 as number 11 Chris Martin, hardly noted for his prowess with the bat, fended off five balls from off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

“I was sweating bullets but it was lucky that Chris got through those five balls and saw me through to it,” said a grinning Ryder.

Jesse Ryder is rewarded for "keeping it simple" as he brings up his maiden Test hundred

“It’s a great feeling. I have thrown it away a couple of times before and just to get it is a great feeling. I kept it simple and stuck to what I know and it worked for me today.”

Vettori was delighted with the way he and Ryder got things back on track. “I was pleased with the way we both played,” he said.

“We’re both pretty aggressive naturally and we sensed opportunities and we wore down their best strike bowlers.

“We always thought Ishant Sharma was going to be tough and we tried to get through his spells as much as possible. Fortunately we did.

“We played well and played some right shots for the innings and the position we were in, and once we did that we were able to let loose a little bit and the runs came a bit easier.

“I was pleased, particularly with Jesse and the maturity of the innings. For a guy who has only played for a little while he’s built a pretty great Test record already.”

Sharma revealed it was much harder work for the bowlers after lunch.

“In the afternoon it got flat, there was nothing for the fast bowlers and the ball was not new,” he said. “We just had to bowl in the right areas and stick to our plans.”

Vettori is aware his side will have their work cut out tomorrow, adding: “Having batted on it for two sessions I’ve realised that the bite has been taken out of (the wicket).

“For us to go well against these guys we are going to have to bowl really well, really disciplined and be patient with them. If we don’t a big total could easily pile up on us.”