Kiwis hang on to secure series

India 99 and 154 New Zealand 94 and 160-6 <i>N Zealand win by 4 wickets</i>

A day of tension ended with New Zealand easing to victory on the fourth day of the second Test here yesterday, giving the Kiwis the series 2-0.

A day of tension ended with New Zealand easing to victory on the fourth day of the second Test here yesterday, giving the Kiwis the series 2-0. The home side were set 160 to win, a sizeable target in the context of an historic low-scoring match where for the first time in Test cricket both sides were bowled out for fewer than 100 in their first innings.

The drama was sent up by 22 wickets falling on Saturday. That comprised of the remainder of India's first innings, who were then bowled out again, for 154, after they dismissed New Zealand for 94 to secure a scarcely-believable first-innings lead.

Not one half-century was posted – the top score in the match was Rahul Dravid's 39 – the first time that has happened in a Test since the West Indies hosted England in Bridgetown on the tour of 1934-35.

"It was pretty tense," the New Zealand captain, Stephen Fleming, said. "One mistake or loss of concentration could cost you the game. In a normal situation it may set you back for a while, but not here. This was high-pressure."

His Indian counterpart, Sourav Ganguly, said: "We would have liked another 40 runs on the board for them to chase today, but I thought 160 was competitive.

He was asked if he thought the pitch was good enough for Test cricket. "I really don't want to make an excuse, but the scores must give you an answer to your question," he said.