Trailing by 86 on the first innings after Central’s 295-9decl, India was 166 for two, with Bangar refusing to be intimidated in his 52 not out through the day, and Sachin Tendulkar playing beautifully on 46. That meant a lead of 82 and an almost certain early finish to the match.

Central’s faint chance of embarrassing India ended when heavy rain during lunch cost important play and overs.

An hour and two minutes was missed after the lunch downpour – which came with India at 109 for two wickets - and Sachin Tendulkar wasted no time in getting under way with two cracking boundaries from loose balls from Lance Hamilton, who shared the attack with Andrew Schwass. .

The little man continued to look for runs, but without risk, because India did not want to lose another couple of quick wickets. But they still managed to keep going at a run-a-minute, even as the skies started to darken again.

In fact Hamilton, a good performer in the first innings, went for 71 runs from his 11 overs in the second, never managing to settle into the same rhythm as he did in the first.

Light rain started to fall with India at 146 for two but lasted only a few minutes and play continued.

Sanjay Bangar had been cruising determinedly along all the time Tendulkar was running his 40-ofdd down, and his innings has provided India with the kind of rock at one end they might need when the going gets tough.

Eventually he reached his 50. a dedicated knock of 144 balls and 191 minutes. Tendulkar was on 42 at the time.

Bangar had a life at 51, clipping Schwass to Central’s centurymaker Bevan Griggs, who couldn’t hold it.

Central Districts were not using new international Michael Mason – maybe the word had gone out to keep him hidden?

India remained at 109 for two wickets, a lead of 23 runs, when the rain came down. The downpour lasted around 20 minutes but the sun was out within 30 minutes and umpires Billy Bowden and Doug Cowie indicated they would have a second look at conditions at 2.30pm.

Sachin Tendulkar was on four and Sanjay Bangar was on 39.

After trailling by 86 runs on the first innings, India produced a gem of a half century by Virwender Sehwag, but lost him to a careless shot on 61 and Dravid after he scored just a single.

Dravid managed only nought in the first innings, going to Central opening bowler Michael Mason. Thjs time it was fourth change seamer Andrew Schwass who picked up both Sehwag and Dravid in a lively spell.

The minor collapse came after India had cruised through the first 70 minutes to be 65-0 at drinks, with Sehwag waiting for the loose ball and punishing it.

Sehwag was starting to give full reign to his strokeplay as the second hour started, mostly off the back foot. He reached his 50 by whipping Hefford through midwicket for four, his ninth boundary in a 51-ball innings.

The next two balls went through point and long on for two more boundaries as the little man reached full stride.

But then the fates conspired against him. Either through accident or design, no matter what the pair tried, Sehwag lost the strike. He faced just four balls in the next five overs, and got himself out through frustration with an airy wave at an Andrew Schwass delivery.

Sehwag faced 55 balls for his 61, hitting 11 fours. His strikerate of 111 showed what he was capable of. The partnership was 91.

Dravid, a second ball dismissal in the first innings, took 10 balls to get off the mark against offspinner Glenn Sulzberger. But it wasn’t going to be a great match for Dravid.

Going to the other end, he faced Schwass, who had been switched, and was cleaned out by the second ball for just the single. This produced Sachin Tendulkar as the Indian innings lapsed into a moment of doubt.

Schwass had two for seven from five overs at lunch, which came at 109 with Bangar on 39 and Tendulkar on four.

The wicket appeared to have lost all its eccentricities and openers Virender Sehwag (in particular), and Sanjay Bangar had few problems in getting the tourists away to a safe – and reasonably quick – start.

Even at this early stage the match seemed destined to dribble out to a draw, with the strong possibility of rain later in the afternoon probably offering a blessed release.

Early interest in the day fastened on the pre-match fitness test of New Zealand test possibility Jacob Oram, bowling just to the side of the match strip.

Usual Central Districts skipper Oram stood down from the India match because of a tight hamstring, but seemed to be over that and available for test selection if wanted.

When play started, little opener Sehwag wasted little time in greeting outside test hopeful Lance Hamilton with 14 runs from his first two overs, while Michael Mason was very tight at the other.

Hamilton had the ill-luck to have Sehwag as his target, giving away 19 runs in his first three overs, while Sanjay Bangar took just a single from Mason’s first three.

The Indian pair cruised to the 50 partnership in even time, off 74 balls, with Sehwag dominating with 38 to Bangar’s 12. Even though looking the most likely to worry the batsmen, Hamilton continued to be expensive, with Mason surprisingly giving way to Brent Hefford after just four overs.

Hamilton conceded 43 runs in his seven-over spell and Mason took his place. India was 65-0 at drinks, after 17 overs, still trailing by .21 runs.

That won’t necessarily be the case all day because the weather forecast includes showers and a southerly change, but after two poorish days in their tour start, India will be keen to bat so well that they send a positive statement to their New Zealand opposition before next Thurday’s opening test in Wellington.

While Indian captain Sourav Ganguly noted after bad light allowed his side the chance to stay in the shed late yesterday that the wicket was still helping the bowlers, there can be little excuse today for the Indians not batting well enough to save the game with ease and some style.

India trails by 86 after its mediocre first innings 209 was followed by a Central Districts recovery to 295-9 declared after a massive middle order collapse left the side 153-7.

Central will be looking for early wickets to put some pressure on, especially opening bowlers Michael Mason and Lance Hamilton, both of whom probably still figure in a bunched field as the last man to make the New Zealand 12 in Wellington.

With New Zealand selection boss Sir Richard Hadlee delaying the announcement of the New Zealand squad until all matches finish today, Mason and Hamilton have been handed a lifeline to impress.

But so have the Indians, and on a low, flattening third day wicket, they should win the battle, especially after some provocative comments from Central Districts coach Mark Greatbatch last night, who questioned the Indians would not want to start batting when one of his younger players (Bevan Griggs) had been able to score a century in similar light.