Black Cap dominance stuns Martin

Chris Martin removes VVS Laxman as New Zealand took a 305 first innings lead

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New Zealand paceman Chris Martin admits even he was taken aback by his team’s success as they rattled the India batsmen on day three of the second Test.

The tourists face a battle to save the match in Napier after being forced to follow on.

Responding to the Black Caps’ massive first innings of 619 for nine declared, India were dismissed for 305 despite defiant half-centuries by Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

Jeetan Patel then enhanced New Zealand’s cause by claiming the wicket of Virender Sehwag to leave India on 47 for one at stumps, still needing 267 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

It was a huge turnaround from the opening Test for the Black Caps, who had suffered a humiliating 10-wicket loss in Hamilton.

And Martin, who claimed three wickets, revealed he could not have envisaged such a response from his team.

“It was a tough grind and it showed the discipline we bowled with today,” he said.

“We had to keep plugging away and making sure we came out on top at the end of the day.

“It’s difficult to picture getting nine wickets on that pitch in a day, and for us to end up with that result was something we weren’t expecting at the start of the day.

“We’re all in a pretty good space, it’s not often New Zealand are a in position to enforce the follow on.”

Martin has urged his team-mates to continue the good work on day four as they look to level the three-Test series in style.

Laxman's 76 gives him enough confidence India can dig themselves out of trouble and avoid defeat

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“I think the extra hard graft is to back it up tomorrow,” he continued.

“A victory is in the recess of our minds at the moment but it depends on how we come out tomorrow and back it up.

“The plan tomorrow is to keep the pressure on and make sure they can’t reach the boundary.”

Laxman’s knock of 76 was one of the few highlights of India’s first innings, which saw the last six wickets fall for for only 59 runs.

Martin eventually accounted for the right-hander, yet Laxman remains optimistic his team-mates can claw their way back into the match over the final two days.

“We’re quite positive,” he said. “We’ve done some amazing things in the past and this gives us another opportunity to do something special. The team has got the potential to do that.

“We have to give credit to them for the way they bowled today. They bowled disciplined lines and lengths.

“We all played our natural games and sometimes with wild play in your game you can fall and get out. But I don’t think that was the case today and we have to give credit to the way the New Zealand bowlers stuck to the task.

“Still it’s now a great opportunity for the entire team to do something special. We’re all looking forward to the next few days and I’m quite confident we can do something special.”