Zee Media Bureau/Chaitan Papnai
Auckland: Shikhar Dhawan, who was going through a rough patch since the South Africa series, is back with a bang. The southpaw scored a magnificent ton under pressure on the fourth day of the first Test against New Zealand.
Dhawan was unbeaten on 49 at stumps on the third day and went on to score his second Test ton on the fourth day. He used 169 balls to to reach the landmark, studded with 11 fours and a maximum.
On the fourth and crucial day of the Test, Dhawan stitched a solid partnership of 126 runs with Virat Kohli for the third wicket. Though, in the first innings Dhawan got out for a duck, he showed enough patience in his 115-run knock, which came at a time when India needed it the most.
At a time when Dhawan and Kohli were at the crease it looked as if India would take the match away from the home side. But India lost both the batsmen within 26 runs. The Delhi opener got out on a sitter off Neil Wagner. And eventually his ton went in vain as India lost the game by 40 runs to give the hosts a lead of 1-0 in the two match series.
But as Dhawan is back in form, it will surely give India a much needed confidence when they lock horns with the Kiwis in the second and final Test of the series at Wellington from February 14.
