Laxman, Dravid steady India against NZ in 2nd Test

HYDERABAD: Venkatsai Laxman and Rahul Dravid steadied India with a 53-run stand after the early dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar on the third day of the second Test against New Zealand on Sunday.

Laxman, playing his first Test on his home ground, was unbeaten on 31 with four fours and Dravid was 33 not out as India reached 237-3 at lunch at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.

The hosts trailed New Zealand's first-innings 350 by 113 runs with seven wickets in hand after resuming on 178-2.

The tourists picked the prized wicket of Tendulkar early into the first session when left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori lured him into playing an ambitious shot on the on-side.

But Tendulkar failed to connect to the ball properly and the edge flew to Ross Taylor who leapt into the air to take a fine one-handed catch at first slip.

Tendulkar, eyeing his 50th Test ton, could add just two runs to his overnight 11 after facing 10 balls in the morning.

Laxman though gave the strong weekend crowd something to cheer when he drove and pulled paceman Chris Martin for two glorious fours in an over.

The wristy batsman greeted fast bowler Brent Arnel with a boundary and also hit a couple of fours off Vettori (2-63).

Dravid too opened up after a tentative start, pulling a bouncer from Tim Southee to break the shackles during a patient 159-minute stay at the wicket.

But runs were otherwise not easy to come by as India could add just 59 off 30 overs in the morning session.