The feel-good factor continues - Iain O'Brien at Cricinfo

With the new ball taken and with Tommy (Martin) running hot we were treated to a special spell of fast new ball bowling. A seven over spell, taking three wickets for 29 runs turned our day dramatically. Tommy’s areas were great, asking questions with pace and a little movement with the new hard rock on the flat track.

I still wasn’t feeling great; I had the newish ball in hand and a couple of lower order batters to bowl at. What a great way to turn a day around. And then it all goes wrong, a bouncer that I didn’t bowl hard enough heads a long way over the boundary by Harbhajan, not the result I wanted. I thought I’d try him out again, this time making sure I got the bouncer up high, it worked and Tommy took a great catch at fine leg to give me my first wicket. The batters crossed and Khan was now on strike, hitting good areas was all I was telling myself. A little wide, this one, and he slashes at it, Jesse at gully, jumps and takes a screamer. India all out and we head back to the shed and then we’re all looking at each other; make them follow on or not, 314 behind, we have to, no other option really.

Tommy and I shared this new ball. These nothing quite like what a couple of wickets does for one’s confidence. All of a sudden things were feeling really good. With two wickets in two balls to close out the previous innings, I was on a hat-trick. The thing about being on a hat-trick is that you want to give yourself the best chance of taking a wicket. So fullish and straight was where I was going. Sehwag hits it back past me for four; oh that’s right, he don’t care, he’s hitting everything everywhere!

I had the snap and bounce I was searching for all day long, my areas were tight and lengths good. No wickets for me tonight, but another one for Jeets. Sehwag looking to score freely from ball one again and spin, again, was the key to the breakthrough.

So as we head into day four the team has a very good feel about it. We haven’t been in the field so long that the tiredness should affect us today. We have to hang tough to our plans and when we get it wrong get back to where we should be and let them make the mistakes. We have to keep our standards in the field and keep the energy up so that everyone can feed off it. One of the biggest days of cricket is just around the corner......

Congratz man. You guys played really well and the indians seriously need to watch how intense u guys are in the field. You fully deserve to win this match and this arrogant indian side will learn to pay the price for such a foolhardy attitude before (when they blew practise and went to party in AK) and during (so many dropped catches, leaking runs easily, stupid shot selection e.g. sehwag) this match.

Loving ur blogs thou... keep up the good work... was impressed with ur dismissal of zaheer!

Sure NZ feels victory at doorsteps celebrations i feel are too early reember cricket is a great leveller in history not a single team have dominated all the seesions of all 5 days... it is impossible...so dont get complacent as indias did..hoping to win is good but i will win is over confidence so beware that the indian team is now felt the pressure and surely have put a rugged show when such a thing happens the team have backfired in all cylinders so look out for the FIRE from FAB Three they will be hogomonus and monsterous when it comes to such perilous situation esp the great SAchin if he takes on you and your colleagues it sure to have some taking to get his wicket, the price tag is not affordable for NZ so look out for the huricane at NZ doorstep ZN have already opeed the doors and IT is accomplished.... the huricane comes to Strike it off....Best wishes for survival...funny i predict it 99% of fans believe indians need to survive the ind will fight fire with fire here it comes

Hey mate, great blog!
And great work in the field out their by you guys!
Must say didn't expect the series to become like this. You got a good strategy going against Seehwag. Keep it up.
Just hoping you could answer one question of mine.
Why were you bowling so wide of the crease today??

The commentators just wouldn't stop about that.
Well good luck for day 4, and I have a feeling that the Indians will bat better this time.
Good Luck Again!!!
Cheers Mate!!

The indian team has looked totally out of sorts right from day 1 in this test (barring the first half hr on day 1)..i know the kiwis have done well in sticking to their task but i have a sneaking suspicion india are throwing this match deliberately. First Dhoni withdrawing on the eve of the match (possibly to keep his "not losing a test" record intact), then indians dropping every catch that came their way followed by some unbelievably bad batting in the first dig. Then Sehwag tossing his wkt away in the 2nd....more to this than meets the eye?...I wonder!!

I just want to thank you Ian. Firstly for bowling, batting, and fielding with guts and determination every ball of every session of every day that you wear the black cap. You make me proud, and as a result I cheer extra loudly for every wicket you get. Secondly, I want to thank you for taking the time to write your blog. It's a highlight, and I really enjoy it. There must be times when you've had a hard day, or you're on tour and you are thousands of miles from home and things are not going well, when it seems like a bit of a chore to post another entry. In times like those I hope you can remember that there are growing numbers of us who avidly look forward to reading your thoughts and views.

Keep up the good work mate, you're definitely made of the right stuff.

Ha ha, enjoy it while you can buddy, The Gods are going to turn their concerted attention to this match :) yes i do mean the Trio- sachin, Dravid and lax.. You might have got lucky that the reckless half-god self-destructed (viru), But oh boy tomorrow should be fun for all Indian viewers complaing aboutlack of second innings centuries from sachin's bat. I have the ability to see one day into the future and I am thoroughly entertained.. Oh yes, a big day is around the corner, a BIG day

Great to see bowling success on a flat track. Mr. O Brien, I am rubbing my hands together with the feeling that today the pitch might offer more assistance to the bowlers. I will keep my wishes high that today you find your rythm and the rest of the NZ bowling squad puts very special performance. I have enjoyed following the NZ team because they come up from pressure. Come on fellas, make it a win for yourselves in NZ. In the past, I have enjoyed seeing NZ win specially in NZ- beating Pakistan 4-1 and SA 6-1. Best of luck with continuing the tradition. To all the INDIAN FANS, great to see some of your reactions when India loses.

It is NZ game to draw, I think they played top quality test cricket to put them in a commanding position. India on other hand will have to dig deep and play to their potential to save the test. Good test sides have bad days, but best sides can overcome those bad days with determination and skills. India definitely has the skills, will they have the determination to put NZ away or will it be the other way around. It looks like a great test match either way.

Hello Iain. I am watching you bowl right now. Today India is showing their determination and perserverence that they have been known for as of late. I truly miss Dhoni's spark on the field, either w the bat or behing the stumps. I like to see your expressions in response to things that happen as you bowl and you do not really show any negative body language, that is exceptional and unusual. Right now, it looks to be anyone's game w only 2 wickets down and too much time remaining today and tomorrow. I wish you luck, you are a joy to see, but I am going to have to stay a true fan of Team India. Good job.

i think today is the perfect day for newzeland ian.great performence by newzeland today in this dead track.dravids wicket was cruial.dravid is the kind of batsman who always leaves the ball outside the offstump.very difficult to get him out,he never chases the ball outside the offstump.but today he was done by ryder,wide ball but again a loose shot from dravid.tendulkar got out for 49 that was also crucial wicket.yuvraj singh ,and karthik went cheaply.karthik got many chances for palying for india but still his performance was not been good.last time karthik got the chance to play in srilanka when doni got injured in one of the test,in that test also karthik not performed.again u bowled really well ian.u had the chance of taking hatrik,but sehwag hit for four .again match is not over yet.newzeland need to play well for last 2 days.india can save this match if they dont loose more than 2 wicket tommorow.antyhing can happen.again from my side all the best for u and kiwis for day 4 and 5