Ahmedabad, Nov 7: In a most unexpected turn of events, the fourth day of the Ahmedabad Test finished with New Zealand on top. This after Christ Martin produced a sensational spell of bowling to leave the Indian top order in disarray.

Having bowled New Zealand out for 459 half an hour before Tea, India lost six wickets in the remaining part of the day’s play to hand the Kiwis a realistic chance of pulling off an unexpected win. India’s second innings start was so disappointing that Gautam Gambhir (0), Virender Sehwag (1) and Rahul Dravid (1) were all back in the pavilion with the score reading a mere 2 runs. Gambhir edged a Martin delivery to wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins, while Dravid too was dismissed in a similar fashion by Martin. Sehwag who was the second Indian wicket to fall, was run out by an athletic piece of fielding by Martin Guptill.

Sachin Tendulkar, who has otherwise had a very successful run in Tests in 2010, added only 12 more runs to his first innings tally of 40 for this Test as he got an inside edge to a Martin delivery that crashed into his leg stump. Suresh Raina (0) was the fifth Indian wicket to fall with the score at 15 runs, Martin inducing an edge from him that carried to Ross Taylor in the slip cordon.

A brief 50-run partnership then ensued between India’s second innings crisis man VVS Laxman and captain MS Dhoni that gave hope to Indian fans that their team would end the day without the loss of any more wickets. But Martin struck once again as Dhoni was bowled trying to force a shot into the off side but instead got an inside edge that ricocheted back onto his off stump. India finished the day at 82 for 6 with VVS Laxman (34*) and Harbhajan Singh (12*) at the crease.

Earlier New Zealand riding on Kane Williamson’s debut century (131) and Daniel Vettori’s gritty knock of 41, managed to get within 28 runs of India’s first innings score. Williamson, who reached his 100 off 244 deliveries, became only the eighth Kiwi batsman to notch up a 100 on debut. The Williamson-Vettori partnership produced 86 runs for the sixth wicket and was finally broken when Pragyan Ojha had Williamson caught at first slip by VVS Laxman. Vettori too was dismissed with the score at 417 as he nicked one behind to wicketkeeper Dhoni off Suresh Rain’s bowling. Thereafter, Gareth Hopkins (14) and Jeetan Patel (14) also chipped in to deny India the opportunity of running through the Kiwi tail. Ojha, India’s best bowler, finished with figures of 4 for 107.

Brief Score – India 1st innings 487 (Virender Sehwag 173, Daniel Vettori 4-118) and India 2nd innings 82 for 6 (VVS Laxman 34*, Chris Martin 5-15), New Zealand 1st innings 459 (Jesse Ryder 103, Kane Williamson 131, Pragyan Ojha 4-107)