India lose Sehwag, go to lunch at 108 for one

Hamilton, March 19 (IANS) India lost the wicket of explosive batsman Virender Sehwag on their way to a lunch score of 108 for one in reply to New Zealand's first-innings score of 279 on the second day of the first cricket Test here at Seddon Park Thursday.

At the break, Gautam Gambhir was batting at 58 and Rahul Dravid at 23.

Sehwag, who added only two runs to his overnight 22 as India moved from overnight 29 to 37, was beaten by a direct hit from James Franklin at the non-striker's end responding to Gambhir's call for a second run.

Stung by the dismissal, Gambhir batted with determination to reach his tenth half century, first against the Black Caps.

He added 71 runs with Dravid for the second wicket.

Gambhir was lucky to be reprieved off the first ball he faced as he was caught plumb in front of the wicket, but bowler Kyle Mills's deliver was called no-ball for overstepping.

Rain delayed the start of play by 15 minutes owing to heavy rain through the early hours of the day.

The forecast for the rest of the day is for largely fine weather with the possibility of isolated showers late afternoon.