New Zealand coach praises bowlers for series efforts

New Zealand coach Denis Aberhart said the Hamilton pitch for the second National Bank Test with India wasn't easy, but he didn't think it was bad as today's topsy-turvy day suggested.

Aberhart, whose side needs another 136 runs tomorrow with all 10 wickets intact, said he was disappointed with New Zealand's batting.

"We were out playing attacking shots rather than defensive ones.

"A couple of players have shown what can happen if they apply themselves and one big partnership is all it will take to win.

"They'll be told not to look at the target they are chasing but to look at one ball at a time," he said.

The significant difference between the two sides so far had been New Zealand's catching.

"Our side has caught very well and that is important.

"Our bowlers through the two Tests have bowled together as a unit. They have done a tremendous job," he said.

And because of the nature of the cricket left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has not bowled a single ball in the series.

In fact, since New Zealand has used portable pitches in Auckland and Christchurch last year, and the two green pitches in Wellington and Hamilton this year, Vettori has bowled minimally.

Aberhart said he wasn't too concerned because Vettori would bowl in the one-day series and if the others were doing their jobs there was nothing wrong with that.

He said that it would be preferable to see more runs being scored in matches but the cricket had still be pretty exciting with the wickets falling.

New Zealand wicket-keeper Robbie Hart, who took three catches, including a superb reflex catch to get Sourav Ganguly's wicket, knows the ground well and he said he thought it flattened in the latter part of today and should provide good batting conditions tomorrow.

The game was hanging there for New Zealand to grab it, he said.

If the side could get off to a good start tomorrow then they should be capable of claiming the win, he added.