HAMILTON (New Zealand), Dec 20: New Zealand destroyed the Indian batting line-up in just 37.1 overs of play leaving the tourists on 92 for eight at the end of the second day of the rain-delayed second Test on Friday.

After the first day and the first two sessions of the second day were washed out by rain, the New Zealand bowlers — led by Daryl Tuffey who got four for 12 off nine overs — wasted no time in ripping into the Indian batting order.

Zaheer Khan was bowled by Jacob Oram for a duck on the final ball of the day, leaving combative Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel not out on eight.

The Kiwis’ skipper Stephen Fleming said: “That’s not the kind of wicket that we ask for or want.

“The wicket is pretty fresh and if you speak to the groundsman he’ll say he is not happy with the preparation and the opportunity to get a wicket that we all want.

“With that in mind it is obviously a very difficult wicket to bat on. The ball is seaming around, but having said that you’ve got to have commitment to get in behind the ball and do some really hard yards.

“There are going to be some balls that have your name on it, but in between you’ve got to work really hard.”

Rain meant play was delayed until 4.30 local time (0430 GMT) and India were put into bat when New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming won his second toss of the two-match series, which the home side lead 1-0.

India were immediately in trouble from medium-fast bowler Tuffey, who struck in his first over when he had Sanjay Bangar caught by Oram in the gully for one.

Tuffey was bowling the perfect line and length and at did not concede any runs until the third ball of his seventh over, when Rahul Dravid hit a single and then Saurav Ganguly nicked a four through gulley off him.

Revenge was not long in coming, as at the end of that over skipper Ganguly, who made five, became Tuffey’s third victim when he gave Fleming some catching practice at first slip.

In the following over Tuffey had Dravid nicely caught by wicketkeeper Robbie Hart for nine.

Shane Bond chipped in with three wickets, the last of which was Harbhajan Singh, who made 20.

Harbhajan was caught by Mark Richardson off a Bond no-ball and the next ball was clean bowled by the New Zealand fast bowler.

“We bowled very well,” Fleming added. “We didn’t let India off the hook at any stage and we bowled some fantastic channels and bowled good length, which was probably the key.”

Scoreboard

INDIA (1st innings)