JOIN USKiwis turn the heat on India
New Zealand had first tricked the Indians with their skillful spin-attack. On Friday, they showed they can play the spin effectively, too. For the second straight day the visitors surprised the hosts in their own backyard, as they comfortably rolled over the threat of spin.
For most of part of the day, the Black Caps batted through the circle of busy close-in fielders, especially the short leg. Like most foreign sides coming to the sub-continent, they employed the sweep shot to perfection, and displayed confidence in the defence to play flawlessly on their back foot.
Captain Virat Kohli had brought in the spinners early in the third over. They met with success, Martin Guptill trapped in front off pacer Umesh Yadav, before the left–right combination of Tom Latham and captain Kane Williamson showed exceptional temperament and restraint in their unbroken 117-run partnership.
Ravichandran Ashwin, with his flight and turn, had begun to create chances in the second session, but couldn’t separate Williamson and his left-handed partner.
The silver threads of rain fell immediately after the teams broke away for tea, and washed away one full session. The play had to be called off with only 54 overs bowled during the day.
At stumps, New Zealand spearheaded by Williamson (65 n.o.) and Latham (56 n.o.), were 152/1 in 47 overs and trailed India by 166 runs.
Foothold
In the first five sessions of the match, India could claim to have a foothold only in the first one. The Black Caps have shown no semblance of discomfort and have matched the Indians in their tactics.
Their left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner and left-arm seamer Trent Boult skittled the Indian batting on Thursday. The last-wicket stand of Ravindra Jadeja and Yadav stretched India’s overnight first innings total of 291/9 to 318 with a partnership of 41 in 59 balls before Neil Wagner dismissed Yadav.
Guptill, despite his long struggle in the Test format, provided a promising start with Latham, who showed excellent composure in dealing with speed and spin alike. Mohammad Shami and Yadav tested him with the away going deliveries but Latham, with five centuries in 22 Tests, proved adept in ‘leaving’ the ball.
Guptill, after playing a couple of delectable drives, was trapped leg before by an in-swinger off Yadav, and that was all the Indians could muster for a brief celebration on the day.
Williamson has steadily gained a reputation for himself with his technique and stamina to bat for longer spells. His calm presence gave confidence to Latham as well. The two went about the business of run-scoring in an unhurried fashion, sweeping, slog sweeping and flicking.
A few flutters
They drove and cut ferociously anything overpitched, especially Williamson, and used quick hands to deal with the bounce extracted by Ashwin and Jadeja. Indian spinners did manage to create a few flutters but at times bowled a bit short to be punished.
Latham, however, survived miraculously at 47. He tried to sweep Jadeja but the ball bounced off his shoe to KL Rahul at short leg. Rahul fumbled with the ball which hit chin strap of his helmet and the catch ended being disallowed.
Relieved, the opener brought up his half-century in the next over, and Williamson raised his own shortly. The two weathered the turn and bounce before the close of the second session. The rain scuttled further play despite the ground staff doing a decent job of covering the field. It halted the charge of New Zealand, who would be eager to build on a well laid foundation on Saturday.
score board
INDIA (I Innings; O/n: 291/9):
Rahul c Watling b Santner 32
(39b, 4x4, 1x6)
Vijay c Watling b Sodhi 65
(170b, 8x4)
Pujara c&b Santner 62
(109b, 8x4)
Kohli c Sodhi b Wagner 9
(10b, 2x4)
Rahane c Latham b Craig 18
(36b, 2x4)
Rohit c Sodhi b Santner 35
(67b, 3x4, 1x6)
Ashwin c Taylor b Boult 40
(76b, 7x4)
Saha b Boult 0
(2b)
Jadeja (not out) 42
(44b, 7x4, 1X6)
Shami b Boult 0
(2b)
Yadav c Waltling b Wagner 9
(27b, 2x4)
Extras (B-5, LB-1) 6
Total (all out; 97 overs) 318
Fall of wickets: 1-42 (Rahul), 2-154 (Pujara), 3-167 (Kohli), 4-185 (Vijay), 5-209 (Rahane), 6-261 (Rohit), 7-262 (Saha), 8-273 (Ashwin), 9-277 (Shami), 10-318
Bowling: Trent Boult 20-3-67-3, Neil Wagner 15-4-42-2, Mitchell Santner 23-2-94-3, Mark Craig 24-6-59-1, Ish Sodhi 15-3-50-1.
NEW ZEALAND (I Innings):
Guptill lbw Yadav 21
(31b, 3x4)
Latham (batting) 56
(137b, 5x4)
Williamson (batting) 65
(115b, 7x4)
Extras (B-8, LB-1, NB-1) 10
Total (for 1 wkt, 47 overs) 152
Fall of wicket: 1-35 (Guptill)
Bowling: Mohammad Shami 8-1-26-0, Umesh Yadav 7-2-22-1, Ravindra Jadeja 17-1-47-0, R Ashwin 14-1-43-0, Murali Vijay 1-0-5-0.